New EC$100,000 Ferry terminal coming soon

Visitors to the Grenadine Isles will soon access the Grenadines wharf through an EC $100,000 ferry terminal.

The project, which is being undertaken by the local Port Authority will be up and running as early as the end of this month, and is expected to make traveling to the Grenadines safer and easier.{{more}}

According to Executive Assistant Manager of the Port Authority, Peter Prescod, the air conditioned terminal will feature a ticketing booth, seating for more than 50 passengers, a vending booth, restaurant, bar, storage lockers, cable television, internet and wireless networking.

Prescod said that the terminal, which is located close to the cruise ship berth will bring a regulatory travel system to the area, easing the congestion that is usually found at the ‘Grenadines Wharf’, and is expected to bring some order and more security to the area.

He said that travelers can now wait in comfort for their ferries, and have a number of luxuries at their disposal while doing so.

Also expected to be ready soon is the new port transit shed, which Prescod said promises improved and speedy services for persons doing business there.

The new building will house the executive offices, and other offices including the harbour master’s office, and pilots office. It will also save visitors to the facility the hassle of moving to different locations to carry out their transactions; all transactions will be done at the same place.

A number of sheds in the main storage yard will be moved, making space for more containers to be stored.

Storage space in the transit shed has been increased by 200%, thanks to the racking system put in place recently. The system is now computerized in order to speed up the process for persons clearing barrels and other items.

The old building which was erected more than 40 years ago, is being renovated to the tune of EC$325,000; the racking system cost EC$ 118,000. An official opening of the sites will follow their completion.

The Port Authority recently completed an enhancement project at the cruise Ship Berth, and plans are in the works to build more shopping booths around the berth as well as a ferry and marina in Bequia.