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News : Grand Bahama Last Updated: Feb 8, 2019 - 8:52:50 PM


Location Revealed for New Cruise Port in Grand Bahama
By The Bahamas Weekly News Team
Feb 6, 2019 - 11:58:41 PM

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Grand_Port_signing_web.jpg
The historic signing of the Port Authority License took place at the media conference at Foster B. Pestaina Centre on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. Left to right: Terry Thornton, Sr. VP, Fleet Deployment and Port Operations, Carnival Cruise Lines; and David Dandib, VP, Development & Operations, Global Port and Destination Development Group. Looking on between them is Marie McKenzie, VP, Global Ports and Caribbean Government Relations. (Photo: Mackey Media Ltd. for The Bahamas Weekly)

Freeport, Bahamas - During a public meeting held on Monday, February 4, 2019 at Foster B. Pestina Center, the location and plans for a new cruise port for Grand Bahama Island were announced.

Guest speakers included Sarah St. George,Co-Chairman, Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA); Giora Israel, Sr. Vice President of Global Port & Destination Development; and the Rt. Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas.

The location of the port will be at Sharp Rock which is located east along Grand Bahama Highway close to the University of The Bahamas. The heads of agreement was signed in 2017 under the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration.

"We will want to touch every person who lives in Grand Bahama. That's our mission and we will," said Giora Israel talking about the local economy. He also said they will be building two piers, a main pier for ship arrivals and a short pier for water excursions. They have plans to protect the 'underwater world'. The Carnival sustainability commitment can be seen at the base of this article.

The "Grand Port" which Israel said was a working title is expected to be completed in 2021, and around 1000 jobs are  anticipated for the initial construction phase.

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The location is off Grand Bahama Highway in east Grand Bahama on the southern shores of the island. (Carnival slide)

"The new cruise port development was said to encompass multiple projects inclusive of construction of the channel, docks, water taxi and work boat piers, berthing platforms, seawalls and turning basin to accommodate two super post Panamex Ships (2017 statement)."


“The new port will create hundreds of jobs in the short-term," said, Prime Minister Minnis, "and has the potential to provide more than 1,000 direct and indirect permanent positions within the next few years as we anticipate the bulk of the on-island construction work will be done by Bahamian contractors, and the bulk of the retail and restaurants will be owned and operated by Bahamians."

“This major project holds the promise of a myriad of opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs to fulfill their own visions of success and prosperity. Grand Bahamians should prepare themselves for the potential benefits from the additional cruise passengers, including for shops, tour drivers, taxis, musicians, businesses and restaurants, hair braiders, arts and craft artisans and stores, souvenir producers and stores, and other enterprises.”


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Grand Port site plan. The layout for the 226 acres of land in east Grand Bahama (Carnival slide)


Carnival_Pier_Locations_Grand_Bahama.jpg
(Carnival slide)



Related:


Grand_port_Commmitment_1.jpg



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