Nassau Harbour dredging port project on course

Nassau, Bahamas – Dredging of Nassau Harbour is expected to begin August 13. Project Manager with Boskalis International BV Frans Thomassen informed Government officials that the Nassau Harbor Port Project is on course.

He said dredging is scheduled to be completed by November. 

Mr Thomassen last weekend took a team of officials on a tour of the Nassau Harbour and Arawak Cay port projects sites.

They were also shown the Ursa, the rock cutting self-propelled dredger to be used to move 1.9 million cubic yards of material from Nassau Harbour.

Among the officials were Public Works and Transport Minister the Hon Neko Grant, Environment Minister the Hon Earl Deveaux, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works Colin Higgs, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment Ronald Thompson, Acting Director of Works Gordon Major, Director of the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission Philip Weech, and Ministry of Works’ Project Engineer Robert Garraway.

The $44.2 million Nassau Harbour Port Improvement Project is being carried out to accommodate the new mega Genesis Class Cruise Ships ‘Oasis of the Seas’ which is expected in Nassau in December on its maiden voyage..

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport said the dredged material will be stockpiled on Arawak Cay for use in future Government projects. Some of it will be used to extend Arawak Cay by 1,000 feet.

The project also includes the installation of three mooring dolphins at Prince George Wharf.

 “I am most pleased having toured the dredger,” said Minister Grant. “I have every confidence that the project will remain on schedule.

“The dredger has some five heads (instrument on the dredger used to cut rock). With this sort of preparation there is no doubt that we will proceed on schedule.”