Context
The Caribbean territories, despite sharing common geography, economic challenges and strong tourism potential, remain poorly connected. Maritime links between Guadeloupe, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis are scarce, costly and ill-suited to current environmental requirements.
Karulink was born from this reality. Led by the STEP Group, in partnership with Antigua-and-Barbuda Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), this territorial cooperation project co-funded by the European Union aims to build a sustainable, smart and accessible maritime and land transport network for all residents and visitors of the region.
Karulink is part of Priority 3: A more connected Caribbean, OS 8 – Sustainable, smart and cross-border mobility of the EDF ERDF Interreg Caribbean 2021–2027 programme.
OS 8 - Sustainable, smart, and cross-border mobility
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Governance and project management
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Project Studies
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Project infrastructures
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Regulatory framework of the project
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Project Marketing
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Formation
BENEFIT
Karulink aims to create new regular maritime routes between Guadeloupe, Dominica, Antigua-and-Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis — where none or too few currently exist.
Environmental impact reduction is built into the project from the outset: evaluation of alternative propulsion methods, emissions management, and environmental standards applicable to Caribbean maritime routes.
The new services under consideration are located in the territories of Riviera du Levant, Bouillante, Deshaies, Vieux-Habitants and Basse-Terre.
Geography
The partners work in collaboration with local institutional and economic stakeholders, including port authorities, public institutions and professional organisations.
Leader
Guadeloupe, the lead territory for the project, is spearheading the Karulink initiative through the Société Transport Expansion Promotion (STEP). The project aims to strengthen regional maritime connectivity and foster economic and tourism exchanges with neighboring islands.
Role: Lead territory implementing the project through the STEP Group
Partners: STEP, CARL, City of Bouillante
Country: France (Guadeloupe region)
Population: ~400,000 inhabitants
Significance: Departure hub for maritime connections, recognized mobility expertise in the Caribbean.
Partner
As a project partner through the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), the territory contributes to the development of new economic and tourism cooperation opportunities within the Caribbean region.
Role: Beneficiary Partner
Partner: Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce (ABCC)
Email: chamcom@candw.ag
Website: https://antiguabarbudachamber.com
Country: Antigua and Barbuda
Population: ~93,000 inhabitants
Significance: Regional tourism hub, English-speaking gateway to the Caribbean
Partner
The Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) is participating in the project to strengthen economic exchanges and improve connectivity between partner territories in the Caribbean.
Role: Beneficiary Partner Territory
Partner: Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC)
Email: info@dominicachamber.com
Website: https://www.dominicachamber.com
Country: Dominica
Population: ~72,000 inhabitants
Significance: Island with strong ecotourism potential to be connected
Partner
Saint Kitts and Nevis is one of the territories targeted by the regional connectivity dynamics studied within the Karulink project, with the aim of fostering economic and tourism exchanges between the islands.
Role: Identified target territory
Partner: Saint Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SKNCIC)
Email: admin@sknchamber.com
Website: https://sknchamber.com
Population: ~47,000 inhabitants
Significance: Small island state with developed maritime potential
Official EDF ERDF Interreg Caribbean 2021–2027 Program
Karulink is co-financed by the European Union under the FED ERDF INTERREG CARIBBEAN 2021-2027 programme for priority no. 3: “A more connected Caribbean, OS 8 – Sustainable, smart and cross-border mobility”
Project Duration
Total project budget
UE Funding (ERDF)
FED Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
The Interreg Caribbean 2021-2027 program is a European territorial cooperation program that supports projects aimed at strengthening ties between Caribbean territories.
Karulink is a territorial cooperation project led by the STEP Group in Guadeloupe, co-financed by the European Union as part of the Interreg Caribbean 2021-2027 program. Its goal is to promote the emergence of new regular and eco-responsible maritime services between Guadeloupe and neighboring islands: Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The project prioritizes ports on the Caribbean coast: Bouillante, Deshaies, Vieux-Habitants (Anse à la Barque), and Basse-Terre. Pointe-à-Pitre is also being considered as a backup port. The ports of Trois-Rivières, Capesterre Belle-Eau, and Grand-Bourg are being considered as pre- and post-carriage points.
Several ports are being considered on each partner island. In Dominica: Roseau, Portsmouth, and Anse de Mai. In Antigua and Barbuda: St. John’s, English Harbour, Jolly Harbour, and Parham Harbour. In St. Kitts and Nevis: Basseterre and Charlestown. The final selection of serviced ports will depend on the results of the ongoing feasibility study.
The project is scheduled to run from January 2025 to December 2027. A pilot line is planned as part of the project to test a service over a full year before the final deployment. The first regular services are aimed for by the end of 2027.
Karulink is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Development Fund (EDF), as part of the Interreg Caribbean program 2021-2027. The total budget for the project is €1,868,743. The STEP Group provides co-financing as the project lead.
The study conducted as part of Karulink identifies several potential traveler profiles: tourists, island residents traveling for family reasons, students, professionals, and economic actors. The goal is to create an offer accessible to all, with a pricing range tailored to different needs.
It is a central focus of the project. Karulink incorporates the evaluation of alternative propulsion methods from the outset — through the acquisition of new vessels or the retrofitting of the existing fleet of the STEP Group — in order to reduce the carbon footprint of deliveries. Applicable environmental regulations (waste management, pollution standards, carbon impact) are the subject of a dedicated component of the study.
If you are an economic actor, institutional player, or professional in tourism or transport in one of the four partner territories, contact the Karulink team via the contact form. You can also join the newsletter to follow the project’s progress and be informed about participation opportunities.
Karulink is supported by the EDF ERDF Interreg Caribbean 2021–2027 programme, which aims to strengthen cooperation between the territories of the region in order to promote sustainable economic development and better regional integration.
The project falls more specifically under the priority no. 3 : “A more connected Caribbean, OS 8 – Sustainable, smart and cross-border mobility”
