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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
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ACCESS RESTRICTED AT CROWN BAY CARGO PORT

The Virgin Islands Port Authority has begun enforcing a federal safety regulation on the cargo dock at Crown Bay on St. Thomas. "Effective Sunday, Oct. 15, the Virgin Islands Port Authority began restricting access to the Crown Bay Cargo Port," the agency said in a statement Monday afternoon.
The dock is located between Sub Base and Frenchtown and serves as home port to Crowley Linear Services and Tropical Shipping, and the eastern end of the dock receives cargo from other islands and Puerto Rico.
"All gates to these areas will be locked," VIPA Executive Director Gordon Finch said. Authorized persons will be able to gain access through the middle gate located between Tropical Shipping's warehouse and U.S. Customs. A security guard will be posted at the access gate 24 hours a day, Finch added.
Though the fences cordoning off the area were erected months ago, access through the area was allowed. The gates were suddenly locked over the weekend with no explanation from VIPA officials until Monday.
The U.S. Coast Guard supervisor on St. Thomas, Lt. Kevin Smith, said Monday the regulations governing security at Virgin Islands ports have been around for some time.
"The security measures are required at all ports, and the VI Port Authority has perhaps employed the easiest security measure, fencing off the area and placing a guard at one access point," he said.
The regulation was put in place, Smith explained, to safeguard vessels that tie up at the cargo dock. "You've got the issue of theft, sabotage of the vessels. There is also the issue of the security of the cargo that is temporarily stored on the dock until it has been cleared," Smith said.
"Only authorized personnel will now be allowed in the area which encompasses the shipping yard used by Crowley Linear Services and Tropical Shipping and the old Sandfill area in Frenchtown," Finch said. He said businesses in the area were informed of the new security measures months ago.

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