International Removals to and from George Town
Moving to George Town with movers? The port does not notify you of arrivals, storage fees start after five working days, and Saturday collection ends before noon.
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
How do you collect a shipment in Grand Cayman?
In a set order, or through a broker. The Port Authority says “You may use a broker to handle all of the collections process for you.” If you do it yourself, you pay the freight to the shipping company and collect the shipping documents, clear the cargo with Customs and Border Control and pay the duty, pay the Port Authority fees, and then collect.
Nobody will tell you the box has landed. The Port Authority's imports page says “It's important to note that the Port Authority does not provide notification regarding cargo arrivals.” The shipping company tells you when its documents are ready, so ask it for the date and keep asking.
Loose cargo and containers part ways at the last step. “Take your Customs release notice and your picksheet to our warehouse to collect your loose cargo.” For a full container, “Provide your Customs release notice and your picksheet to a trucking company to have them collect your dedicated container.”
Port fees are paid at the Billing Office, which the Port Authority places “To pay the required port fees, please visit the Port Authority Billing Office located on Portland Road.” Customs sits ahead of that step; the rules for your goods are in the customs guide.
When can you collect, and when does the port work?
On weekdays in the daytime and on Saturday morning. The Port Authority says “In Grand Cayman, cargo can be collected from the Cargo Distribution Centre on Portland Road Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12 noon.”
Its hours table is slightly tighter. It shows the billing office open from 8:30 to 4:00 on weekdays and 8:30 to noon on Saturday, the container yard from 8:00 to 4:30, and warns “The warehouse still closes at noon, but the gate to the warehouse closes at 11:45am”. The FAQ starts Saturday at 8:00 and the table at 8:30, so aim for the later time.
Ships work at night. The FAQ gives “What time are cargo ships operations conducted? A: 1800hrs to 0600 hrs (6pm to 6am).” Public holidays shut the yard: “The warehouse, container yard, and dock are closed on public holidays from 12 midnight before the holiday until 12 AM after the holiday.” Good Friday and Christmas Day close the whole port.
How long can a shipment sit at the port?
Five working days, then it costs money. The Port Authority says “any cargo remaining at the Port Authority for more than 5 business days will incur a storage fee”, and under the Port Authority Law “cargo left unclaimed for longer than 15 days may be deemed abandoned” and auctioned after a four-week notice.
That sits awkwardly beside Customs' rule that an entry is due within 7 days of arrival. Since the port notifies nobody, the sensible order is to have the entry, the form and the broker ready before the vessel is due. These are our reading of two separate pages, so ask the broker how the two clocks run.
Where are the offices a newcomer needs?
Two main ones are in George Town. Customs and Border Control headquarters is at 42 Owen Roberts Drive, George Town, Grand Cayman, according to the C5 form, and the same form lists it for further information. The Department of Vehicle and Drivers' Licensing (DVDL) says “DVDL Headquarters , located at 990 Crewe Road, George Town”.
Car inspection is the visit that is easy to time badly. DVDL says “Inspections can be carried out at the Crewe Road Office, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday” and Friday, from 8am to 4pm, so there is no Wednesday or weekend slot there.
Two branches serve the other big districts. DVDL lists a West Bay Branch at 2357 West Bay Road and a Breakers Branch at 2035 Bodden Town Road. Its inspection page gives the Breakers office Tuesday to Friday and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.
Which districts count as George Town for a move?
The district is the capital and half the country. The 2021 census table gives “George Town 33,898 49.3 14,344 39.0 19,554 61.1”, which is 49.3 percent of the 68,811 residents counted in the tabular totals. Wikipedia's city figure for 2025 is 47,009, a different boundary and year, so do not mix the two.
Two more districts are large enough to matter to a removal firm: “West Bay 14,784 21.5 8,430 22.9 6,354” and “Bodden Town 14,398 20.9 10,311 28.0 4,086”. North Side (1,857) and East End (1,758) are small districts on the same island.
We found no council, police or road authority notice about parking permits, road closures or moving-day rules in George Town, West Bay or Bodden Town, and the Port Authority's pages say Portland Road without naming a district. Ask your firm about parking and access at your address, and for the Sister Islands see the Cayman Islands hub.
Questions about moving to George Town
Does the port tell me when my shipment arrives?
No.
The Port Authority says it does not notify anyone of cargo arrivals. The shipping company tells you when its documents are ready.
How long can I leave a container at the port?
Storage fees apply after more than five business days.
Cargo unclaimed for more than 15 days may be treated as abandoned and auctioned.
Do West Bay and Bodden Town have their own pages?
No.
They are districts of Grand Cayman and are named here with census figures and the DVDL branches that serve them. No moving rule specific to them was found.
Tell us about your George Town move
Send the address in George Town, West Bay or Bodden Town, the floor, whether there is a lift and the month you want to move.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
- Email[email protected]
- In partnership withAGM Group (agm.group)