The Antigua Port Authority (APA) is now turning its attention to developing the Crabbes Harbour where major work will soon begin to upgrade and expand the facility.
This follows the APA announcement that the expansion and dredging of St. John’s Harbour is nearing completion.
It is against this background that the APA has announced major capital expenditure this year that will include development at Crabbes and in Barbuda.
APA general manager, Darwin Telemaque, said the authority now has the green light to complete negotiations that will allow dredging at Crabbes Harbour to begin.
“I am very happy to report that we have the greenlight to commence negotiations for the dredging of the Crabbes Harbour. Once we have finalised the contract and we start having vessels coming into Crabbes, that is going to be a beautiful day.
“What’s happening there is that we are building a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) industrial site [to service the LNG power plant nearby]. That plant is going to require larger ships coming into Crabbes.
“Currently we are at five metres so, we are going to be dredging down to eight metres,” he reported.
The new power plant is expected to be completed this June and dredging at the harbour is also expected to be completed to coincide with this timeline.
In Barbuda, meanwhile, APA will oversee the construction of a new pier, warehouse and operations building which will house the Customs and Immigration department, plant health division and other key government agencies.
According to Telemaque, the work to be embarked upon in Barbuda is part of the greater goal of readying Barbuda to meet the requirements necessary to become a port of entry.
