CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Port Authority got approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge Charlotte Amalie Harbor to handle larger cruise ships.
Without the dredging, St. Thomas had risked falling behind as a premiere Caribbean cruise destination.
Gov. Albert Bryan, who has championed the project, called it: ‘another big win for the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
“With the Virgin Islands Port Authority and our federal partners, we are transforming our main infrastructure in ways that will make history,” he said.
Dredging Charlotte Amalie Harbor isn’t just about moving sand; it’s about moving forward,’ he continued. ‘By making room for bigger cruise ships, we are opening doors to more tourism and more investments. This is about boosting our economy and making sure our islands are not just a top-notch place to visit but also a leading economic force in the Caribbean.’
Improved navigability
The dredging aims to provide a controlling depth of 12.1 meters/40 feet in the main channel, 11.5 meters/38 feet in the turning basin, and 10.9 meters/36 feet at the West Indian Company berths to accommodate larger cruise ships.
Out to bid
VIPA plans to put the project out to bid within the next 60 days and anticipates work will begin by the second quarter of 2025. The dredging is expected to take approximately 15 months to complete.
VIPA will host an industry day at noon August 13 to provide more details about the project. Marine, dredging, and general contractors are invited to attend.
The meeting will be held in the conference room on the third floor of the VIPA Administrative Building at 8074 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas. Persons interested in attending virtually may email info@viport.com to receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invitation.
Acknowledgments
VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe expressed gratitude to the Bryan/Roach administration for their support and for submitting two pieces of legislation to appropriate funding for the project. He also thanked WICO CEO Anthony Ottley and his team for the information provided and involvement in the process and members of the 35th Legislature and Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett.
By ANNE KALOSH/Seatrade Cruise News