The advanced ports of Antigua and Barbuda call in more boats

With more than 650,000 cruise passengers arriving to Antigua and Barbuda by sea, St. John’s port is a major part of the infrastructure of the islands. "The majority of visitors coming to Antigua and Barbuda arrive by boat. The ports are the first stop for the people and a vital part of our economy," said Mr. Leslie Williams, Port Manager of Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority. In fact, the number of cruise ships visiting Antigua is so large that the government decided, in the 1990’s that the twin islands could compete with neighbors such as the Barbados in the cruising industry. In response, the Government established the Antigua Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA) in 1997 and since then the cruise industry has grown by an incredible 60%.

The cruise industry is constantly expanding, last year alone it grew by over 20%. It is not just because the number of boats choosing Antigua as a destination has increased but the size of the boats has also expanded. Twenty years ago, for example, a large cruise ship was approximately 15,000 tons and carried 700 passengers. Today, ports must be prepared to handle mega ships of 140,000 tons carrying 3,500 passengers and upward of 1000 crew members. In order to cater to the requirements of these ships, an expensive infrastructure must be in place.

Antigua has one of the best natural harbors in the region, and has capitalized on this by investing over $22 million to bring its facilities up to the level required by these ships. The renovation was done five years ago and has supplied new berthing facilities that can now accommodate four of the worlds largest and most modern cruise liners at the same time. The money went to dredging St. John’s harbor to a depth of 35 feet, widening the channel into the harbor, increasing the size of the turning circle so that the ships can maneuver, refurbishing and extending Heritage Quay, and the adding a welcome center and a second quay. As the country looks ahead to Cricket World Cup 2007, the cruise sector is expected to greatly assist with the limited accommodations available on the islands. In fact, Antigua is expected to have about six Cruise vessels docked and operating as floating hotels during the World Cup.

Aside for expanding the cruise ship port facilities, the creation of the ABCTA has also resulted in a divide between piers for cruise ships and cargo ships. The cruise ships now dock at Heritage Quay and the Nevis Pier in Downtown St. John’s and cargo now arrives at the old berthing areas at the Deep Water Harbor. While the cruise ships are an essential part of tourism, cargo remains important for the economic feasibility of the island. "The Port Authority handles all the cargo that is imported into Antigua and Barbuda," explains Williams. At this point, the island’s ports are prepared to "handle any type of cargo. Our channel at Deep Water Harbor is approximately 35 feet deep, 300 feet wide, and 800 feet long," explained Williams. But the Port Authority is also looking into renovations which should commence next year to further update the ports. "Because of ideal location of the islands, our ports have a high priority…in recent years we have implemented more information technology into creating efficient services. We are constantly looking to make sure we remain up to date," said Williams. In keeping up with the Joneses, IT is available at the port facilities in Antigua and Barbuda making it plausible to pre-clear import containers electronically online. Nowadays, a cargo ship can be in and out in 24 hours.

Another priority of the Port Authority is safety. Since 9/11 attacks, security of the ports has garnered additional attention and therefore, "the Antigua Port Authority has conducted numerous workshops on Health and Safety management as well as Security awareness," said Williams. The Health and Safety Department along with the Security Department have also taken strides to uplift the standard of the Port by cleaning the facility, erecting signs, marking safety zones, and ensuring fire extinguishers are serviceable. The coastguard will also increase their water patrols to provide adequate security for the increase of traffic expected in the harbors.