The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is preparing to solicit international bids for the Kingston Harbour dredging project.
According to jamaica-gleaner.com, the most important part of this development program is dredging to the depth of 17 metres, the depth that will allow the Kingston port to accommodate the larger container vessels.
Currently, the harbour is about 14 metres deep.
The dredging project will improve Kingston’s competitive advantage and enable the port to serve as a transshipment hub for draught restricted ports of the US East and Gulf Coast.
For more than 20 years, the need to cleanup the harbour has been accepted by the political leadership, but just a few concrete measures have been taken.
Noel Hylton , the state agency’s president and CEO, said: “ The Port Authority is preparing to solicit international bids in September.”
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Dredging Today Staff, August 29, 2012; Image: portjam