Planning for dock construction continues

[drew sailbum]

Slowly, in that inexorable glacial pace that defines Caribbean Time, a real plan has been coming together to construct berthing facilities for some cruise ships. Now the details are being hammered out between a developer and the Cayman Islands Government.

 

The already signed Memorandum of Understanding required certain formalities, not the least of which is for an Environmental Impact Assessment which is now complete.

 

The latest report featured in the Cayman Compass newspaper still reflects plans to provide berthing for up to four cruise ships.

 

Now the updated plan proposes some as-yet-unnamed additional development. The hoped for timeline could have construction starting later this year and complete as early as November 2012.

 

Check out the report by Alan Markoff in the Cayman Compass http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2010/08/19/Port-project-expands-beyond-berthing/

[TurtleTagger]

No worries. New port soon come.

[runner15km]

Thanks for update. Where would be the location of the pier.

[drew sailbum]

Any construction would still be in the central George Town area. Discussion has centered around a location just north of the present tender piers.

 

Soon come, indeed. To translate the Caribbean Time estimate for the general public...

next week means sometime next month.

next month means maybe next year.

completed by November would elicit a reply of "November of which year?"

 

Don't be surprised at all if not one scoop of dirt is moved nor one drop of cement poured until well into 2012. That is assuming things do eventually come together to make this project a reality.

[Keith1010]

It would be great if this becomes a reality. It is certainly needed.

 

Keith

[lovevacadays]

That would be cool if they do this. I guess some time in the future we may be able to dock in Grand Cayman. Back in the early 90's a spent a bit of time in St Croix as my boyfriend was working there and I learned alot about island time. I kind of liked it, though, being from crazy Southern California. I do remember going into a restaurant for dinner and coming out about 2-3 hours later. Something to get used to after the rush in California but ended up being so nice as there was time to actually have nice conversations.

[Sargent_Schultz]

I guess it's come a ways. Some time ago, the proposed port was at the east end of the island and GC was holding out for a cruise ship to be homeported there, if I recall correctly.

[drew sailbum]

...To translate the Caribbean Time estimate for the general public...

next week means sometime next month.

next month means maybe next year. ...

 

Don't be surprised at all if not one scoop of dirt is moved nor one drop of cement poured until well into 2012. That is assuming things do eventually come together to make this project a reality.

 

It may be bad form to quote yourself but...

 

The first developer is out. Negotiations could not be brought to conclusion.

 

Now government is trying to pick it up from the same point with the second place developer from the bidding process.

 

http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2010/12/08/New-builder-for-berthing-dock/

 

The new developer is quoted as saying they can move ahead with an agreement and, “start the project in the first quarter of 2011.”

 

 

 

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

[drew sailbum]

The Premier of the Cayman Islands has terminated the port development exclusivity agreement. This was the agreement with the second developer mentioned above.

 

At the time the agreement was terminated by the Premier, the developer GLF Construction had indicated that they could have been ready to commence the project within six weeks of finalizing the master agreement. (ie not the development agreement they had been proceeding under)

 

On April 12 the CEO of GLF Construction wrote the Premier to request a meeting to move forward. He stated a commitment for financing had been lined up through Citibank and design testing was completed.

 

In his reply of April 14, the Premier indicated that he did not consider the financing commitment sufficient and he was terminating the development agreement.

 

http://www.caymannewsservice.com/politics/2011/04/20/bush-rejects-port-developers

 

No project started. Have to start all over from the beginning.

 

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.