The Virgin Islands Port Authority (Authority) will spend $190,000 to replace corroded marine cleats at three seaports in the St. Thomas-St. John District. The Authority has hired Lighthouse Marine Virgin Islands to install new cleats at the Charlotte Amalie Waterfront Harbor’s bulkhead and the Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal’s dock in Red Hook on St. Thomas, and at the Loredon L. Boynes Sr. Dock in Cruz Bay, St. John. The installation of the cleats will begin Friday, Sept. 6, and should be completed in two weeks.
The new cleats will help provide a secure means to safeguard vessels berthed at VIPA’s ports. They are also a much-requested amenity for mooring mega yachts and other private vessels that wish to berth in the picturesque Charlotte Amalie harbor during the U.S. Virgin Islands tourist season. By providing the new cleats, the Authority hopes to attract high-end seafarers to the territory to help provide patrons for tourist-related businesses and boost the territory’s economy.
