Friday, March 26 – Works being conducted on the cruise ship tender pier are 70-percent finished, with completion expected in early June.

At a site visit earlier today, it was announced that construction of the pier is progressing according to schedule.

The structure comprises of a dock measuring 336 feet in length and an adjoining pier that will measure 100 feet in length.

Project Manager with Kraus-Manning Construction Services, Mr. Mark Brackenbury is optimistic that the project should be completed by early June.

The project began in late September of last year, after a study commissioned by the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) concluded that a tender pier in the location of the cruise ship pier would remedy the traffic congestion that occurs at the Road Town Jetty when cruise ship tenders arrive in port.

“At present, when the ferries that conduct tour excursions dock at the end of the cruise ship pier, passengers have to climb aboard. This project makes things much safer for everyone,” said Mr. Brackenbury.

“In addition to increased safety, another benefit is that the tender pier will act as a backup facility for ferries. We will be making considerable improvements to the local ferry terminal in the near future, and when that happens, the ferries will dock at the tender pier,” said Mr. V. Victor O’Neal, Managing Director of the BVIPA. He also indicated that that project will begin late this year or early next year.

The managing director also said, “After the tender pier has been completed, the BVIPA will be looking into various options for generating revenue; one such option may be catering to mega yachts and other vessels that require greater depth for docking.”

“The pier will also be a great first impression for all the tourists coming through this area. We have established some great beautification modifications to this project, that will make the tender pier something that many have not seen in this region ever before,” said Ms. Asiyah Grant, Project Engineer with the BVIPA.

With regards to the progress of work, Ms. Grant said, “We have all worked very well together and it is because of this relationship, we are meeting our objectives. The BVIPA is happy to have this mixture of intelligence, talent and skill, working for the betterment of the Territory.”

The contractor for the cruise tender pier project is Odyssey Venture Group Limited and the cost to date is $3,440,987. The design was done by Dawson Wells Consulting Engineers.

In relation to the renovation project at the cruise ship pier, the managing director announced that works will re-commence when the cruise ship arrivals slow down.

The cruise ship tender pier project is in line with the Government’s plans to improve and expand present port facilities in the Territory, in order to be up to date with international security and operating standards and also to meet the growing needs of residents and visitors.