From left to right: Chief Executive Officer of the BPI, David Jean-Marie; Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner; and Chairman of BPI, David Harding, cutting the ribbons officially commissioning Berth 5 at the Bridgetown Port yesterday.

From left to right: Chief Executive Officer of the BPI, David Jean-Marie; Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner; and Chairman of BPI, David Harding, cutting the ribbons officially commissioning Berth 5 at the Bridgetown Port yesterday.

NEW BERTH 5 OPEN

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 12:00am

With a six per cent increase in cruise arrivals expected this year, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, says the work done on Berth 5 is timely.

Her comments came yesterday morning just moments before she cut the ribbons officially commissioning Berth 5, which took a mere five months to complete, the Shallow Draught Marina and the new equipment acquired by the Barbados Port Incorporated (BPI) to improve the execution of its duties, which together cost some $115 million.

According to Sandiford-Garner, the new berth is necessary for two main reasons – not only does it allow the country to pursue transhipment of cargo in the wake of the expansion of the Panama Canal, but it allows Barbados to attract even more homeporting business. This, she said, comes against the backdrop of the country securing two new cruise ships – Mein Schiff 3 and P&O Britannia – to homeport here on the

same day.

She explained, however, that Berth 5 will be mainly a cargo berth, outfitted with a modern Panamax Gantry Crane allowing the Port to receive larger cargo. She further stated that the crane will help to ease the workload of the existing and much smaller crane, which has been in operation since the 1980s. She said this new ship to shore container crane will improve the efficiency of cargo operations with an outreach of approximately 37 metres, a lift height of 30 metres and a load capability of 60 to 70 tonnes. The crane, she noted, is fitted with a twin lift telescopic spreader which can lift two 20-foot containers at one time.

The Parliamentary Secretary further indicated that the Port has also added five straddle carriers to expand its existing fleet of eight units, which will be used to handle all ISO standard containers in lengths of 20, 40 and 45 feet. These carriers, she told the gathering, has the ability to stack up to four 9.5 foot containers. She made the point while noting that the Port has also acquired additional lift trucks and pallet and container scanners.

She explained that in keeping with the Port Master Plan, they have also constructed a stern to berth, 600-foot long jetty with the capacity to accommodate as many as 30 yachts and similar vessels. Furthermore, it provides needed berthing space to accommodate residential and commercial vessels and will form a major part of the country’s tourism marketing as it relates to yacht racing.

The tourism official said that some of the vessels competing in the upcoming Barbados 50 Race which will start at Pico Teneriffe, St. Lucy in honour of the island’s 50th anniversary of Independence, will dock in that new marina. The senator said the marina also boasts facilities for the regulatory agencies and bathrooms for the yachtsmen. (JRT)

NEW BERTH 5 OPEN

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