Anguilla takes steps to upgrade facilities

The British Overseas Territory of Anguilla is just 26 km long and 4.8 km wide and has a population of around 15,000. Yet the island boasts three ‘port’ facilities, all of which are being redeveloped or expanded.

Similar to the set-up in St Kitts and the US Virgin Islands, the Anguilla Air & Sea Ports Authority (AASPA) has a bimodal function and multi-terminal role operating the three ‘sea ports’ of Blowing Point, Road Bay and Corito Bay as well as Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (CJLIA). AASPA is a statutory body of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries & Environment. Legislatively, the AASPA is charged with the exclusive rights to manage the ports of Anguilla.

Anguilla’s existing maritime infrastructure was badly damaged in 2017 by Hurricane Irma. But this dark cloud had a silver lining, because it has given the AASPA the opportunity – and the external funding – to make or plan significant improvements to its three ‘ports’ as well as to the airport.

Designed

Of the three facilities, Blowing Point, on the south coast, was the worst affected, with its passenger terminal being effectively destroyed. This new terminal building of 35,000 square feet is now being designed to be rebuilt. Explains, AASPA Chief Executive, Sherman Williams; “The AASPA and the Anguilla Government are seeking investors to partner in collaboration with the private landowners to develop a megayacht marina in Blowing Point Harbour and waterfront facilities on the upland along the Blowing Point Beach”.

Blowing Point Ferry Terminal is used by passengers making the 20-minute crossing to Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, with services to both the French and Dutch sides of the island. These services are operated by companies such as Funtime Charters, GB Express and Calypso Charters, offering frequencies of up to 17 a day between Blowing Point and Sint Maarten-Anguilla Dock (close to Princess Juliana International Airport). Passenger ferries operate every 45 minutes from Anguilla to Marigot.

Regular cargo is handled at the Road Bay Jetty on the island’s north coast of the island. The jetty is located at the south end of Anguilla’s most popular tourist area, Sandy Ground. However, the existing Road Bay jetty has no cargo handling equipment and ro-ro vessels are obliged to berth stern-on.

Capability

Plans for a new pier have been around for some time with the aim of providing better cargo handling capability and allowing vessels to call directly from the United States for the first time. The new pier, which is being funded by the UK Government, is to be built to the south of the existing facility, but with enough space in between so that both jetties can be used simultaneously.

Says Mr Williams: “The multifaceted jetty has been designed by Barbados-based DLN Consultants Inc. The Project went on bid in 2017, but the tender process was annulled and no contract was awarded. The retendered documents were submitted in early May 2019 and vendors have been swift to express their desire to bid”.

Adding: “Nevertheless, the project is regarded as an interim measure to cover a period of 15 to 20 years until construction of a new port is developed and cargo activities are transitioned to Corito. The new jetty in Road Bay will then serve small cruise vessels and yachts with the infrastructure support”.

Furthermore, the government is understood to have signed agreements for the development of alongside cruise ship and super yacht facilities. In the past, Anguilla has regularly seen between 50,000 and 75,000 cruise passengers a year. But, says the AASPA, improved facilities should, in time, increase these figures to between 150,000 and 200,000.

At present, small cruise ships mostly anchor in Road Bay. For the time being there are no dedicated cruise ship berths, so passengers are taken to the jetty by tender. Occasionally cruise ships will anchor off Blowing Point.