MEDIA

19 Nov 2025

Nassau Cruise Port Donates $50,000 to Strengthen Caribbean Maritime Education and Support Students Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) today announced its continued support for the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF), marking the fourth year of contributing to this respected organization since 2021. The company, which is the largest transit cruise port in the world, donated $25,000 this year to advance maritime education and training opportunities for Caribbean students and another $25,000 to provide relief for maritime students impacted by Hurricane Melissa across the region.

This year’s support includes the launch of the Mike Maura Jr. Scholarship, named in recognition of Mike Maura Jr., CEO & Director of Nassau Cruise Port and Chairman of Arawak Port Development, for his visionary leadership in Caribbean port development and maritime workforce development. Mr. Maura also served as host of the 2025 ACMF Anchor Awards Gala, which was recently held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“Supporting the ACMF is an investment in the Caribbean’s future,” said Mr. Maura. “The maritime sector offers tremendous opportunity for our young people, and by helping students access high-quality training, we are contributing to a stronger, more innovative regional workforce. The Caribbean sits along some of the world’s most critical shipping routes—hosting an estimated 30% of global container transshipment activity—and is also the world’s most visited cruise destination, welcoming more than 40% of all global cruise passenger arrivals. Yet our people remain underrepresented in engineering, navigation, logistics, compliance, port operations, and emerging maritime technologies. To fully benefit from the business that moves through our waters, we must prepare more Caribbean nationals to lead, innovate, and shape the future of this vital industry.”

Since partnering with ACMF in 2021, Nassau Cruise Port and Arawak Port Development have supported several Bahamian and Jamaican students pursuing maritime careers:

• 2021–2023 Scholarship Recipients
  o ACMF Nassau Cruise Port Scholarship — Caleb Swann, The Bahamas, LJM Maritime Academy (3-
  year scholarship; graduated 2023)
  o ACMF Arawak Port Development Scholarship — Vernice Jonassaint, The Bahamas, LJM Maritime
  Academy (3-year scholarship; graduated 2023)
• 2025 Scholarship Recipients
  o ACMF Nassau Cruise Port Scholarship - Dibari Scott, Jamaica, Caribbean Maritime University (oneyear scholarships; expected graduation 2028)
  o ACMF Arawak Port Development Scholarship — Kwesi Scott, Jamaica, Caribbean Maritime
  University (one-year scholarships; expected graduation 2028)

These scholarships reflect a strong commitment by both companies to ensure that Caribbean students have access to world-class maritime training, empowering them to build meaningful careers in a rapidly evolving global industry.

“Our support of maritime education represents just one part of our broader philanthropic mission,” said Maya Nottage, Regional Marketing Director at NCP. “We invest in youth and sports development, cultural enrichment, and community-building initiatives across The Bahamas. Through partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and cultural institutions, we provide students with access to technology, creative opportunities, mentorship, and safe learning environments to ensure that our impact extends far beyond the waterfront - strengthening communities, empowering young people, and helping shape a stronger future for Bahamians.”