Jacksonville based Caribbean Shipping Services has been cited as the largest locally owned shipper to the Puerto Rico market by newly released statistics from the Jacksonville Port Authority. Puerto Rico is the Port of Jacksonville's largest trading partner, with almost three million tons of cargo exported in 2004. The main exports to the island include grocery store merchandise and various foodstuffs, which Caribbean Shipping Services specializes in.
Although the Port of Jacksonville itself only employs about 150 people, the shipping industry's related companies conducting business through JAXPORT account for nearly 45,000 jobs in northeast Florida.
"By offering terrific service at competitive prices, Caribbean Shipping Services has been successful in growing our business, and the Port of Jacksonville continues to grow along with us", said Julie Robbins, Vice President. "Jacksonville is a great city for us to be headquartered in due to its close proximity to our focal market, the Caribbean."
"Caribbean Shipping Services has always had good fortune to find quality employees who have stuck with us through the years here in Jacksonville. The continuity of our staff is one of the key contributors to our growth", added Paul Robbins, CEO.
Caribbean Shipping Services was founded in 1993 by Paul and Julie Robbins. Today they operate from their main offices in Jacksonville, FL and satellite offices in Miami, FL, San Juan, PR, Charlotte, NC and Howell, NJ. The company has twice been named to INC Magazine's list of 100 Fastest Growing Inner City Companies. Since 1999 they have also been included in the First Coast 50, a listing of the top fifty companies in Northeast Florida.
In May Paul Robbins was presented with the Maritime Person of the Year award by the Jacksonville chapter of the Propeller Club. "As a primary customer of several liner companies serving the Port of Jacksonville Caribbean Shipping has played a leading part in the steady growth of the Port's business. The innovative guidance of Paul Robbins promises great future success for Caribbean Shipping Services and for the Port of Jacksonville," stated Eric Bryson, President of the Propeller Club.
Earlier this year, Caribbean was presented with the prestigious Navigator Award from Frank Peake, President of Sea Star Line, one of their partners in the Puerto Rico trade lane. This award is presented to an individual or company that made a significant impact on Sea Star's trek towards their goals and objectives.
