By
Alex Smith |
Construction on the new pier at Antigua Cruise Port is continuing despite delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As of March 31, apart from the dredging activities, the project was fully on schedule,” said David Corbella, principal marine engineer at Global Ports Holding. “After the government curfew was enacted, the team suspended construction for a few days and incorporated several precautionary measures. We established day and night shifts to reduce the number of people working on the site at any given time, in addition to establishing social distancing protocols. We have reduced the daytime crews to 50 people and the night time crew to 25 people at any given time. We have also added shifts to ensure that the project stays on schedule as much as possible.”
Among the protocols introduced at the construction site are temperature checks at the entrance and the provision of face masks for all crew members. Hand sanitiser dispensers have been placed at all workstations, and a daily ‘Toolbox’ meeting is held to review precautionary measures and regulations.
While most components of the project remain on schedule, a slight delay is expected in the dredging of the ship berthing area, which has currently been cleared to around 50 per cent of the depth required. The process was scheduled to be completed in mid-June but may now be delayed by about one month.
“The extent of the reach of Covid-19 and its impact on our society was certainly unforeseen and even unimaginable at one point,” said Dona Lisel Regis-Prosper, general manager of Antigua Cruise Port. “We are, however, making steady progress on the expansion of the port despite these challenges. We remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver significant economic benefits to Antigua & Barbuda and to create a stunning, world-class port facility that will be primed and ready to accommodate those Oasis-class ships and more as the industry begins to rebound.”