The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) has been working diligently to repair its air and seaport facilities that were damaged during hurricanes Irma and Maria. VIPA has made temporary repairs that have allowed it to reopen and operate its facilities. Airport operations on both St. Thomas and St. Croix have returned to normal, and airlines will soon begin to offer more flights to the territory.
The seaports are also open. There is scheduled barge and ferry service between Red Hook and Cruz Bay, daily. However, there is no ferry service to St. Croix at this time. Travelers are urged to contact the ferry companies because schedules are being updated weekly.
The Port Authority is now preparing to enter construction mode and permanently repair its facilities. The construction manager at risk contractor, Lemartec Inc., was competitively selected by the VIPD Board of Directors to oversee the restoration of all port properties. Phase 1 of the restoration schedule will focus on the three properties that received the most damage during the storms:
Cyril E. King Airport Terminal on St. Thomas
Crown Bay Center on St. Thomas, and
Henry E. Rohlsen Airport Terminal on St. Croix
Construction at these three facilities should begin in January.
On St. John, modular buildings are on order to replace the Port Authority’s marine offices and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection building. All foreign arriving vessels will be processed at the Edward Blyden Marine Terminal at the Charlotte Amalie Waterfront on St. Thomas until further notice.