The completion date for the ongoing dredging and expansion of the St. John’s
Harbour has been pushed back to at least the end of the year.
Tourism Minister Charles Max Fernandez acknowledged that the delays have been
a concern of many in the community, noting that he too is concerned about the
moving completion date.
However, Fernandez said there are several reasons why the deepening exercise at
the port has had to be postponed, again.
One reason, he noted, was the government’s decision to engage Blue Horizon as
the company that would undertake the dredging. He said going with this company
has saved the country significant sums of money. Additionally, Blue Horizon is
partially owned by the Antigua and Barbuda government which benefits from any
profits made by the company.
“What I have been told is that when the contract was signed initially, they were
told that they would have to dredge to a depth of 11.8 metres. They have since
adjusted it to a depth of 12.3 metres. This request for additional depth for the
entrance and turning basin for the port is another reason for the delay,” Fernandez
reported.
Once the dredging is complete, representatives from the cruise line, Royal
Caribbean, will visit Antigua to carry out their own inspections. It is only after
these inspectors give the greenlight that the vessels of the Oasis class will be
permitted to call at the St. John’s Harbour.
According to the minister there is even a bigger class of cruise ships that are now
being built – the Iconic Class. He said these would require even further depth in
the harbour.
However, the minister is suggesting that there be need for a frank discussion on
whether investing in the millions it would require to undertake this additional
dredging would be beneficial to the country. He noted that this may also raise
questions about the number of cruise visitors that the country can carry on a given
day without the numbers causing so much disruption go normal operations that it
sparks a pushback from residents. These are questions, he said, that have to be
answered when the time arises.
