Crabb’s Harbour Dredging Completed Ahead of LNG Vessel Operations

Major dredging works at Crabb’s Harbour have been completed, clearing the channel to accommodate larger vessels, including ships carrying liquefied natural gas for the Antigua Public Utilities Authority.

Cabinet received the update from Blue Ocean Dredging Company, in which the Government holds a majority shareholding.

Testing is now being conducted to verify that the harbour has achieved the depth and specifications required to facilitate the intended vessel traffic safely.

The dredging project is considered critical to Antigua and Barbuda’s energy security and port infrastructure.

APUA’s LNG-powered generation facility requires deliveries from vessels with a deeper draught than Crabb’s Harbour could previously accommodate. The Government had therefore identified the need to deepen the channel for larger LNG and cement vessels.

The project encountered difficulties due to hard-rock formations on the seabed, which affected the pace of dredging.

The Government subsequently strengthened Blue Ocean’s capacity by supporting its acquisition of specialised dredging equipment.

With the major works at Crabb’s Harbour completed, Blue Ocean will now mobilise its equipment and personnel for the next phase of dredging at St. John’s Harbour.

Previous Government assessments found that approximately 20,000 cubic metres of rock and 120,000 cubic metres of maintenance dredging must be removed from St. John’s Harbour.

The programme forms part of wider efforts to modernise the country’s maritime infrastructure and develop the Port of St. John’s as a more efficient gateway for cruise, cargo and other commercial vessels.

Blue Ocean’s growing role also reflects the Government’s decision to develop domestic marine engineering and dredging capacity instead of relying exclusively on more expensive overseas contractors.

Cabinet welcomed the completion of the Crabb’s Harbour project, describing it as an important milestone for the country’s energy and maritime infrastructure.

The Government will continue to monitor Blue Ocean’s performance as the company advances the work at St. John’s Harbour.