Dredging at Crabbs “continues at an even pace”.

That was the update given on the ongoing work by Cabinet Spokesperson Maurice Merchant.  

The project has suffered some delays but according to Merchant it should begin to move at a faster pace.

“Dredging at Crabbs continues at an even pace and it’s expected to be upscaled with the coming of the new equipment that was purchased by the government. We’ve been told that the new equipment will arrive in Antigua, that’s the new excavator, will arrive on Antigua by the end of November. Within a week or two, the barge to facilitate the work of this new dredge equipment should arrive. Dredging should be upscaled in a matter of weeks at the Crabbs area and recommenced in the St. John’s Harbour area in the coming weeks,” Merchant shared.

Blue Ocean Dredging had previously constructed the country’s fifth cruise berth and began dredging operations at St. John’s Harbour to prepare it for Oasis Class cruise ships. However, work was suspended after equipment was severely damaged by hard rock formations on the seabed.

Plans to hire international firms to complete the task were later abandoned due to prohibitive costs.

It was announced last month that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda became the majority shareholder in Blue Ocean, the country’s primary dredging and marine engineering company.

As part of the new investment, Blue Ocean is set to receive state-of-the-art equipment valued at US$2.5 million, including a massive dredging machine worth US$1.2 million and a companion barge valued at US$1.3 million.