Plans for Montserrat’s new port in Carr’s Bay have reached the 90% design stage.
This week, representatives from the consulting firm Halcrow gave presentations members of the Cabinet and opposition members on Tuesday. The port steering committee, port operators, police, fishermen, environmentalists and the media, all received presentations, making up six in all, according to the Regional Manager Edward Albada of Halcrow.
Director of Public Works Ron Beardsley opened the presentation that involved the media. The regional manager Albado referred to the presentation as leaving, “the best for last.”
In 2012, the government approved a new design concept for the town at Little Bay which included a shifting of the port plans to Carr’s Bay. In his presentation Albado informed at the beginning that the “design we presented at the 60% design phase was scrapped as it did not meet the needs for Montserrat,” but he said significant changes and additions were made after a review of the 60% design.
Reporting on the changes, he pointed out: “We have managed to optimize allot of costs even though the port has expanded, both in terms of the breakwater length which is by far the biggest cost, as well as the port area.
We have also divided at the request of the government of Montserrat the port cost from marina cost,” noting his understanding that the port will be funded separately than the marina.
He said one of the biggest changes has been a drop in the overall estimated costs of the main port from US$ 117 million to US$ 96 million. The marina, which will be handled separately by the Montserrat Development Corporation, is estimated now at US$50 million, which cost does not include the structures that will complete the marina.
“…the 90% design … of the changes include the maximum cruise vessel size has been increased from 225 Meters up to 284 Meter vessel and that will capture Montserrat’s crews markets for the next foreseeable future,” he said.
He explained further that the overall port acreage has increased from four acres to 4.22 acres. The marina has increased from four acres to 5.49 acres. The town centre will now have 7.11 acres up from 5.55 acres.
Another important feature that impacted the costs is the fact that, the breakwater which was originally planned to be built via ocean construction will now be 75% constructed from land which caused a significant drop in the costs, he said.
The Halcrow manager fielded several questions, observations and suggestions from the media a few of the other persons attending the presentation. He noted and expressed his appreciation for the questions which he answered. Some of the issues raised had to do with the functionality of the port as he addressed, the dredging associated with the port, the Mega Yacht berth, ferry and cruise ship berths, the marina; the port itself, the Collins River diversion, the grading of Gun Hill, and the area for the fishermen.
Regarding Gun Hill that has been topic of discussion and questions, he said, “basically the big changes to the 60% and 90% is remove the entire port facility southwards; expanded the marina and the births are slightly moved off shore as well. To make room for the expanded scheme would have to level Gun Hill.”
At the beginning Albado had said that in addition to the port in Carrs Bay, there was the matter of the cliff back of the Little Bay port. “Part of our assignment is to take care of some slope stabilization right on the back of this hill there, (pointing to the cliff behind the port) right on the back behind us is a cliff that’s eroding so we have to take care…”
