New berthing arrangements at Careenage

Efforts are underway to ensure business continuity for the Barbados Port Inc’s (BPI) tenants at the Careenage, during the demolition and construction phases of the neighbouring Pierhead Project.

This as the BPI has committed $3 million to the construction of three new berths for commercial vessels at the Careenage and a new dedicated dock for party boats in Bridgetown.

There are 47 tenants at the Careenage, among them boat owners, water sports operators and those involved in island tours, pleasure cruising and fishing.

Two of the berths are 140 ft in length, the other is 80 ft long, and they can accommodate 10 catamarans.

In addition, monohull commercial vessels offering fishing and other island tours have been relocated from the Careenage to the Inner Basin, which now accommodates 40 vessels.

The new dock located in the area of the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, will serve the MV Dream Chaser and its three ancillary vessels, as well as the MC Buccaneer.

The Barbados Port Inc. has also engaged two people to serve as Bridgemen, raising and lowering the Chamberlain Bridge to facilitate vessel access in and out of the Careenage.

Chief Executive Officer David Jean-Marie has extended thanks to the boating community for the patience exhibited during the extended period of searching for solutions and the completion of construction.

“We recognise the importance of maintaining occupancy and vibrancy at the waterfront, given its critical importance to both land-based and cruise tourism as well as the local cruising industry, and so we sought to ensure that operators would have reasonable and indeed enhanced facilities with attendant services from which to operate over the next few years”, he said.

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