Repair works are set to begin on a damaged section of the St. John’s waterfront boardwalk, with restoration expected to be completed within two to three days, according to Port Manager Darwin Telemaque.

Telemaque tells Antigua.news that cruise operations have continued uninterrupted since the incident, as authorities moved quickly to secure the area and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.

Antigua Port Authority CEO Darwin Telemaque

Providing background on the collapse, the port manager explained that the failure occurred after too many people gathered in a single concentrated area of the boardwalk, placing excessive stress on the structure. As a result of the overburdening, a tile reportedly broke, triggering the partial collapse.

The incident occurred during a peak cruise day when thousands of visitors were in St. John’s, and the boardwalk—linking the Redcliffe Quay and Heritage Quay areas—was heavily trafficked. While the collapse alarmed nearby pedestrians and businesses, officials later confirmed there were no serious injuries.

As part of the immediate response, water taxi operations were relocated to the Montserrat Ferry Terminal. Telemaque said this move was necessary to reduce congestion and prevent large groups from congregating in the same area of the boardwalk.

He emphasized that safety remains the top priority and assured the public that the affected section will be properly repaired before being fully reopened. Additional monitoring and crowd management measures are also expected to be reviewed, particularly on high-volume cruise days.

Authorities continue to urge members of the public and visitors to follow posted advisories as repairs proceed and normal activity resumes along the waterfront.