Last Updated on September 9, 2021, 8:35 AM AST by Renaldo St Juste
At Port Zante, the second cruise pier is completed now and will be operational during the time of use.
Tuffida Stewart, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) gave the assurance about the completion of the project on Wednesday, September 08, while he was speaking on the radio and television programme named “Working for You”.
While highlighting the point that in future, many additional cruise vessels would be including St Kitts in their programme, they said, “Pier two is ready and is available for vessels to berth for the upcoming season and as early as next month.”
Tuffida Stewart said that the work was being done by the contractor those were adding the additional layer of protection because of the larger vessels like Oasis Class vessels that were frequently stopping in St Kitts in the past.
Ms. Stewart added that they asked the contractor to dredge to deep down 37 feet, and in different areas, they dredged till 36 feet. Now the Oasis level vessel can berth at this level with full safety. SCASPA had to look out for their intended potential liabilities, and should they have a drop in the ocean levels, they do not have enough clearance.
As such, plans to perform remedial dredge work are supposed to be commissioned at the commercial port at Bird Rock and Pier I at Port Zante. At Pier I, the eastern side of the pier would be dredged to berth Oasis Class vessels. The work would now incorporate Pier II at Port Zante.
“When that is done, we would have on every pier the capability of berthing an Oasis Class vessel on any side,” she said.
Ms Stewart added that there were several minor repairs to be carried out but assured that they do not impact the capabilities of the pier in hosting the largest cruise vessels in the world.
Renaldo St Juste, with his connection across the regions excels in providing all the regional updates from across the caribbean nation. His reporting majorly includes covering entertainment, crime and sports.
