The Government of the Virgin Islands through the Recovery and Development Agency has inked a contract with INROS Lackner S.E of Germany for the design and construction management of the West End Ferry Terminal.

The contract valued at $1,048,909.00 was signed on August 8 for a period of 36 months.  The first six months will be utilised for the design phase followed by 18 months for construction supervision and 12 months for the defects liability phase.

“Our sea ports are an integral part of our way of life in the Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said. He added, “We depend on good, functional port infrastructure to commute between our islands for leisure and to do business. We depend on it for travel to and from the neighboring US Virgin Islands, and for receiving visitors for our tourism industries. Before the hurricanes, the West End Ferry Terminal cleared 40 percent of all arrivals into the Territory.”

Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Recovery and Development Agency Anthony McMaster said the agency has reached a key milestone in this project which brings together a partnership among stakeholders. 

Mr. McMaster highlighted the procurement process stating, “Under the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) rules, and this is where it becomes very important as CDB is comprised of international funding countries from throughout the entire hemisphere, all CDB projects, particularly when they exceed a certain financial threshold are advertised internationally, so it is no longer limited to BVI Companies.”

The procurement of this contract was done in accordance with the RDA and CDB’s procurement policy and general procedures. Eighteen (18) firms expressed an interest in the project and the top four were requested to and submitted detailed technical and financial proposals.

The ferry terminal at West End was the busiest seaport in the Virgin Islands prior to the 2017 hurricanes: 40% of all arrivals into the Territory were cleared through West End. The destruction of the terminal affected travel between Tortola, Jost van Dyke and the USVI. It has impacted both residents and visitors, whether arriving by ferry, water taxi, private yacht or charter yacht.

Under the direction of the Premier’s Office, the RDA will manage the design and construction of a new, expanded terminal, in partnership with key stakeholders namely the BVI Ports Authority, Immigration Department, Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Her Majesty’s Customs, the BVI Tourist Board and the ferry operators and taxi drivers. 

NOTE TO EDITORS

Audio clips attached (2)

• Premier of the Virgin Islands Honourable Andrew A. Fahie
• Acting Chief Executive Officer of the RDA Mr. Anthony McMaster

Photographs attached

• Highlights from the contract signing ceremony