USVI-On-Line

In a recent meeting with members of the 31st Legislature, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) Board announced a number of capital projects and facility upgrades the authority has planned for fiscal year 2015.

Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe said upgrades are expected to begin at the Gallows Bay Marine Terminal, development of a paid parking facility in Cruz Bay, and construction of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at Red Hook’s Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal.Dowe also said there is planned expansions for both the St. Croix and St. Thomas airports, costing $70 million and $30 million, respectively.

VIPA, a semi-autonomous government agency, proposed a budget of roughly $40 million for the planned capital improvements. Officials say they expect the budget to total nearly $133 million over the next five years.

Port Authority officials also say the agency had successfully closed on bond financing. It had received $55 million with an interest rate of 3.84 percent, the lowest rate the territory has ever received in bond financing.

“I want to thank Executive Director Dowe and his staff working collaboratively with my Chief-of-Staff, Jeanine Perez-Santos, for inviting all the senators to discuss the pertinent projects affecting our territory’s ports and gateways,” said Senate President Neville James. “I also want to thank the entire legislative membership for coming together and sharing great ideas during the meeting.”

Big plans afoot?

It would be great to have C&I in Red Hook and cut down on the ferry traffic into Cruz Bay. I can just imagine a paid parking garage on the current parking lot footprint - lots of money spent and fewer spots.

Cheers, RickG

The word is that The Cruz Bay Customs and Immigration will close and everyone will have to go to Red Hook. They won't have an office just for St. John.

Wow; won't that really put a crimp in day trips to Jost and other BVI destinations??

All the best,

Kevin

Losing C&I at St. John would stink. Hopefully they'll add an anchorage in Red Hook for boats checking in.

Cheers, RickG

SEG has customs as part of their plan in Coral Bay. Not that it will ever happen but it is part of their plan.

C&I in Coral Bay would create a whole new economy there for excursions. As it is, now you have to check in at the Cruz Bay C&I... or the new Red Hook C&I? Grumble.

We're working on getting our registrations with the USCG Small Vessel Reporting System. That means that as boat owners we could check in online or with a phone call. Unless we have any guests.

With Abi Beach Bar on the south shore of St. Thomas, Christmas Cove and Water Island maybe its time to rethink BVI day trips.

Cheers, RickG

RickG wrote:Losing C&I at St. John would stink. Hopefully they'll add an anchorage in Red Hook for boats checking in.

Cheers, RickG

I have checked back into the USA in East coast ports from Eastport ME to Miami FL and can't think of any place where CBP is responsible for providing or managing an anchorage - it has always been the local authorities or the Port Harbormaster.

Yep, harbor master provides. There's no room in Red Hook without impacting the private moorings. In Cruz Bay the creek has an area designated as anchorage and the Caneel Bay mooring field. Red Hook as AYH marina, but very limited transient space.

Cheers, RickG