The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) said that the Charlotte Amalie Harbor Dredging Project will start next month.
According to VIPA, this major infrastructure initiative aims to improve navigational access in Charlotte Amalie Harbor and support the continued growth of St. Thomas as a premier Caribbean cruise destination.
In their latest announcement, VIPA also provided an update on the demolition of the former Addelita Cancryn Junior High School property in Crown Bay that will serve as a temporary placement site for beach-quality dredged material.
VIPA Executive Director Ava Penn said that they have entered into a contract with Orion Marine Construction, Inc. to perform marine dredging services within Charlotte Amalie Harbor, including the entrance channel, turning basin, and West Indian Company (WICO) berth pocket in St. Thomas.
The VIPA Board of Governors selected Orion Marine Construction through a competitive bidding process and approved the award at its March 18, 2026, meeting. The contract, executed between the parties on June 5, 2026, is valued at up to $41,927,000, with the project to be completed within 365 days of dredging commencement.
The Charlotte Amalie Harbor Dredging Project is scheduled to begin dredging by October 12, and be carried out in two phases:
- Phase 1 — October 2026 through March 2027: This phase will consist of dredging the non-beach quality material from the entrance channel, turning basin, and WICO berth pocket. The material will be transported via vessel from the Charlotte Amalie Harbor to the south shore of St. Croix, where it will be temporarily placed for dewatering at the Gordon A. Finch Molasses Pier in Krause Lagoon. It will then be transported via truck for final placement at a disused quarry site on the north side of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport,
- Phase 2 — March 2027 through October 2027: This phase will consist of dredging the beach-quality material from the entrance channel. The material will be transported via vessel to Crown Bay Cargo Port for unloading. It will then be transported via truck for placement at the former Addelita Cancryn Junior High School property.