Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

VI gearing up to construct new pier for larger, mega-sized cruise ships - Premier

VI gearing up to construct new pier for larger, mega-sized cruise ships - Premier

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has announced plans to construct a new pier in the territory to accommodate the mega-sized cruise ships.

Premier Fahie said during his budget speech on Thursday, November 12, 2020, that this is the Virgin Islands way of staying ahead of the curve.

“Mr Speaker, even as the cruise industry is restructuring and preparing to re-emerge from the impact of COVID-19, the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) is also working to adapt to the most important evolution in that industry – the emergence of larger, mega-sized cruise ships,” he remarked.


Premier Fahie said during his budget speech on Thursday, November 12, 2020, that the construction of a mega cruise pier is one of the ways the Virgin Islands will ahead of the curve.


“They include, the OASIS of the Seas, a $1.4 billion luxury ship by Royal Caribbean that accommodates 6,300 passengers and the 6,500-passenger Excellence Class (XL) by Carnival Cruise Lines that was launched in 2020, and which was expected to cost $950 million,” he added.

The Premier further said, the BVIPA currently operates a single cruise pier at the Tortola Cruise Port; it is not capable of accommodating these larger, mega-sized cruise ships.

“Understandably, therefore, for the BVI to remain competitive and build resiliency in the Caribbean cruise sector, the development of a new pier must be a top priority. Therefore, the BVIPA is working diligently in the review of options to develop and operate a new mega-ship pier at the Tortola Cruise Port, and other ancillary food, beverage and retail facilities at the Cyril B. Romney Pier Park.”

He further informed that in early October 2020, the BVIPA engaged the services of top cruise industry experts Bermello Ajamil and Partners, to assist the BVIPA in this undertaking

There will be other port improvements territory-wide, he informed.


The OASIS of the Seas, a $1.4 billion luxury ship by Royal Caribbean that accommodates 6,300 passengers.

Luxury hotel


Meanwhile, he said, in anticipation of both the potential for future cruise-passenger origination at the BVI and the increased demand for hotel accommodation, the BVIPA issued an Expression of Interest for the development of a new luxury hotel and conference centre on a 27,281.12 square foot waterfront parcel in the Pier Park.

“Two companies were shortlisted to submit proposals to a subsequent Request for Proposal that was issued. They include GPH and Meridian, a local Virgin Islands company. Upon request by one of the two proponents, and in consideration of COVID-19-induced lending challenges, the deadline for response to the RFP was extended from October 2, 2020, to January 29, 2021,” he said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×