Everette Freites' Journey

Everette’s Journey:  A Life Shaped by the Sea by Paula Stewart

Everette at the helm, reflecting a lifetime on the water

Everette Freites was born on the island of Grand Turk to Luis and Kathleen Freites.  His journey begins on the water, long before he ever imagined owning ships.

As a teenager, around 14 or 15, he spent his time taking Captains Sam Stoole and John Misick out to large vessels waiting offshore. They were pilots, climbing up ladders at sea to guide ships safely into port. Everette ran his small dinghy that got them there. It was simple work, but it gave him a front-row seat to something bigger. Watching those captains, he developed a deep respect for what they did and started to imagine himself doing the same one day. His journey can be understood as a story about how supply chains are built, often started by people who start from the ground working their way up.

He kept at it for years while still in school, learning the waters in ways you can’t from books. At 21, he stepped further into that world when he began working on the Turks and Caicos Aggressor, a liveaboard dive boat based in Providenciales. It was there that he was encouraged to get his captain’s licence. The people around him could already see what he was capable of. He knew the waters, he could handle the boat, and they believed he could go further. What’s notable is how exposure shapes understanding. He saw how vessels, ports, and people connect. Over time, that kind of visibility builds awareness of how supply chains actually work.

In 1993, Everette headed to Louisiana to attend the Sea School in a small town called Morgan City. At first, the U.S. Coast Guard refused to accept him into the program as he was not an American citizen. Instead, he worked on crew boats servicing oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to help build up his sea time. It wasn’t easy. However, with support from then Chief Minister Washington Misick, who provided a letter on his behalf, he was eventually allowed in under certain conditions. He was not to captain any U.S. registered vessel, which was of no issue to him as most vessels are registered outside of the U.S.

Later on, training and certification added another layer. He took this opportunity and pushed through. The coursework was challenging, especially since it focused on U.S. territorial waters that he was not familiar with. Still, he passed. He earned his 100-ton master’s licence with a score of 76%, and soon after added sailing, towing, and pilot endorsements, scoring even higher on those exams. Today, he holds all of those U.S. Coast Guard certifications.

A younger Everette during his early maritime career

When he returned home to the Turks and Caicos Islands, his achievements were recognized locally. He went back to work on the Aggressor, this time as captain, and spent the next four years running the vessel.  By 1996, he was ready for something of his own. He left the Aggressor to open Oasis Divers in Grand Turk, building a business around diving and snorkeling, and continuing his connection to the sea.

Not long after, another opportunity emerged. From 1998 to 2007, Everette worked as a pilot, guiding ships into Grand Turk. When vessels needed help navigating into South Dock or anchoring safely, agents would call him. For years, he helped bring in everything from cargo ships to cruise ships, including those arriving at the Carnival port. It was precise work that required deep knowledge of the waters, and their conditions. No matter how global a supply chain becomes, the final stages often depend on local expertise.

Alongside that, he also took on yacht deliveries across the Caribbean, moving private vessels between Florida and the Caribbean. Each trip added to his experience and understanding of the region.

Today, Everette is a partner in a shipping company, ENE Shipping, and owns a fleet of seven vessels operating across the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas. His ships run regular routes between places such as Providenciales, Grand Turk, Parrot Cay, Ambergris Cay, Puerto Plata, and Exuma, carrying goods. At this stage, the focus is no longer on a single task, but on ensuring the whole system functions smoothly.

Everette aboard one of his vessels

Despite how far he has come, what drives him hasn’t really changed.

Everette still talks about his love for ships and the ocean in the same way he did as a boy. Growing up around the water, fishing and watching vessels pass by, he said “I never imagined I would one day own ships myself.” Starting with small boats at Oasis Divers and moving into much larger vessels only deepened that passion. Seeing his ships over 200 feet long carrying cargo from one port to the other is something he still finds remarkable.

His fleet today is registered mainly in the Dominican Republic, with one vessel in Panama, reflecting the international nature of the industry he has grown into.

What this kind of journey shows is that supply chains are not built overnight or from a single vantage point. They are developed through layered experience. It also highlights the mindset required. Progress in this field says Everette “depends on persistence, a willingness to learn across different functions, and a strong respect for safety and standards. The path can be demanding, but it is also accessible to those who are willing to start small and stay committed. What once felt almost impossible to me as a child turned out to be achievable.”

Everette stresses that anyone thinking about a similar path, he is clear about one thing; “It isn’t easy.” He also noted that one can now get their Captain’s licence in U.S., and parts of the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas, St. Vincent, and Jamaica. Earning a captain’s license takes discipline and commitment, and the standards are high for a reason.

“If you really want it, you can get there.”