Prime Minister Gaston Browne says a major shipping company has expressed interest in diverting cargo traffic to Antigua and Barbuda, a move he believes could accelerate the country’s ambitions to become a leading transshipment hub in the Eastern Caribbean.

Speaking on the _Browne and Browne_ show, Browne said the inquiry came recently and was directly linked to the government’s investment in a new $16 million crane at the Deepwater Harbour port. He told listeners that the company’s interest would not have materialised without the upgraded equipment now in place.

“If we didn’t have that crane, the call that we got yesterday about shifting the traffic here would not have happened,” Browne said.

According to the Prime Minister, the potential deal could significantly increase cargo volumes through Antigua, forcing the port to scale up rapidly to meet future demand. He said the anticipated growth would require at least two additional cranes and a larger operational footprint.

“If that deal goes through… you will have several of those cranes on the port, at least maybe another two more, because based on the volumes, you’re going to have a number of ships,” Browne said.

The increased activity is already prompting structural changes. Browne confirmed that the government intends to cut down Rat Island to create additional land for storage, equipment, and expanded cargo handling areas. He said the existing port—although recently modernised—is quickly approaching capacity due to rising transshipment activity.

“The whole idea is to cut down Rat Island to create more land because we need more space,” he said.

Browne explained that the regional transshipment opportunity is strengthened by Guyana’s growing trade links with Brazil, where goods can be moved northward for further distribution through Antigua to OECS and wider Caribbean markets. He said such a shift would create new business for importers, exporters, and spin-off industries such as ship maintenance, bunkering, and warehousing.

The Prime Minister added that the government is exploring further improvements to port management, including corporatization and strengthening oversight, to ensure increased traffic translates into stronger revenues and reduced leakages.

While the company’s identity has not been disclosed, Browne said the interest signals confidence in Antigua and Barbuda’s direction and underscores the importance of continued infrastructure investment.

He told listeners that if the deal advances, it could reshape the country’s maritime economy and position the port as a significant regional logistics player for years to come.