The government has made a significant cash injection into Blue Ocean company making it the new majority owner of the dredging company.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne made the major announcement about Antigua and Barbuda’s latest infrastructure and maritime expansion on Saturday’s Browne and Browne Show. The government, he revealed, has taken a majority stake—approximately 75%—in Blue Ocean, the nation’s dredging and marine engineering enterprise.
“We just bought this massive dredging machine,” Browne explained enthusiastically, sharing photos live during the broadcast. “The operator standing beside it is six feet tall, and the tracks alone tower above him. It’s huge.”
The equipment, valued at US$1.2 million, will arrive in about four weeks, accompanied by a barge worth another US$1.3 million, bringing the total investment to US$2.5 million. Together, these assets will position Blue Ocean as the largest dredging company in the Caribbean.
The new dredge, Browne said, will be capable of undertaking heavy-duty marine work, from deepening harbours to reclaiming land and expanding coastlines. “This machine can rip up the jaws of death in the harbour and finish the dredging at North Sound,” he said.
The Prime Minister went further, outlining a bold vision for land creation and coastal development:
“There’s no reason we can’t use this equipment near Sandy Island to expand it tenfold and create a beautiful new bay. We can make more land — a new leisure space for locals and visitors alike.”
He emphasized that such innovations were not dreams but tangible, ongoing projects: “We’re showing people the evidence. We’re not just talking — we’re building. You’re going to see new offshore islands created from that machine. Mark my word.”
Investing in Vision, Not Rhetoric
Addressing critics, PM Browne underscored his administration’s momentum and accountability. “All they do is talk lies,” he said. “But we’re showing the people the results — concrete investments, real progress. We have the energy, the vision, and the plan. Work with us.”
When asked about how such massive machinery would be transported, he explained that the dredge would be disassembled, shipped on specialized flat racks, and reassembled by international experts once it arrives.
“We did the same for our industrial printery,” he reminded the hosts. “It’s nothing new — just big, exciting progress.”
