Fernandez gives another new date, in 2024, for the arrival of first Oasis Class cruise ship

Dredging of the St. John’s Harbour is yet to be completed after more
than eight years, and another timeline has been given for the arrival
of the world’s largest ships, the Oasis Class, to our shores.
 
Several timelines have already been given by the Browne
Administration for completing the project and for the arrival of
these ships – which is why the dredging was undertaken in the first
place.

It was last November that Information Minister Melford Nicholas
said that a vessel was scheduled to arrive in Antigua in January this
year (2023).
 
Now, Minister of Tourism Charles “Max” Fernandez is giving a new
arrival date for the mega vessel, which he expects will dock here on
January 2, 2024.
 
However – even as he was confirming the arrival date – Fernandez
noted that it is contingent on the successful completion of the
dredging operations in the St. John’s harbour.

These operations were required to widen and deepen the channel
and the turning basin leading to the berths.

The dredging is being done by a company known as Blue Ocean in
which NAMCO, a government entity, has a stake.
 
The project has been faced with repeated delays, reportedly due to
very hard volcanic rocks being in the seabed.
 
Blue Ocean’s dredging equipment has been damaged repeatedly due
to the toughness and density of these rocks, the Cabinet has claimed.
 
As a result, the company’s principals had also discussed the
payment of additional amounts arising from this damage.
Heavier-duty equipment reportedly was brought in from Panama to
replace those damaged during the encounter with the dense rocks.
 
However, it appears that the issue continues to plague the
completion of the project.

In the meantime, Fernandez says that substantial progress has been
made with the turning basin, and a significant portion of the channel
has been completed, to date.

At present, the company is focused on a specific area at the harbour
entrance, and the minister reports that Blue Ocean officials have
said the work will be finalized by the end of October
 
Media reports indicate that the mega ship’s operator, Royal
Caribbean, wants to ensure that the harbour has the required depth
to safely accommodate its vessels before proceeding here.