There is a fishing village at Rockfort and fishing docks at Harbour View and at Port Royal . As a large , natural , well-protected harbour , it was doubtless used by indigenous people , and has been used by Europeans since the very beginning of their exploration and settlement of the island . Initially the main settlement was at Port Royal but following its destruction in the 1692 earthquake , the English founded Kingston and began development of its waterfront
1692 earthquake
1692 Jamaica earthquake
Kingston Harbour