$41.9 Million Charlotte Amalie Harbor Dredging to Begin by Oct. 12

ST. THOMAS — The long-planned dredging of Charlotte Amalie Harbor is scheduled to begin by October 12, with the V.I. Port Authority outlining a two-phase operation that will deepen key sections of the harbor while moving dredged material by vessel and truck between St. Thomas and St. Croix. VIPA said it has executed a contract worth up to $41.927 million with Orion Marine Construction Inc. to dredge the Charlotte Amalie Harbor entrance channel, turning basin and West Indian Company berth pocket. The contract was executed June 5 after VIPA’s Board of Governors approved the award in March, and Orion has 365 days from the start of dredging to complete the project. The October 12 date gives the project its most specific construction timetable yet. When VIPA officials appeared before lawmakers in August, Engineering Director Preston Beyer said dredging was expected to begin within 60 to 90 days, putting October at the earliest end of the anticipated start window. “This long-awaited pro...