The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is currently in the process of evaluating the soil stability at East Harbour, the site chosen for the proposed cruise terminal in Port Antonio (Jamaica's Portland parish).
This ambitious project is planned for lands encompassing a 68-acre area referred to as Folly. In comparison to the neighboring West Harbour (home to the Errol Flynn Marina), East Harbour is considerably larger.
Aerial images, featured in tender documents seeking the services of a geotechnical expert for soil testing, suggest this size difference.
Notably, the new terminal's initial location was the smaller West Harbour. However, Prime Minister Andrew Holness disclosed in 2022 that this option had been ruled out. The decision to opt for the larger East Harbour is seemingly based on its potential to facilitate the navigation of larger vessels more effectively.
The Port Authority holds ownership of the Folly Lands and the Errol Flynn Marina, which primarily caters to private yacht owners. Constructed by the PAJ in 2002, the marina was envisioned as a means to promote Port Antonio as a cruise tourism destination. Nevertheless, it has faced ongoing criticism for its limited cruise ship calls. While it remains popular among affluent boat owners, the existing cruise pier is ill-equipped to accommodate the larger cruise vessels that typically carry thousands of passengers.
Statistics from the PAJ indicate that during the first 7 months of 2023, no yachts or other vessels docked at the marina, in contrast to 2022 when three yachts with a total of 1,200 passengers utilized the facility. In 2019, the marina recorded its highest annual visitation, welcoming nine vessels carrying 1,480 passengers.
Across all 14 ports monitored by the PAJ in Jamaica, ~2050 vessels carrying ~740,500 passengers docked between January and July of the current year. The cruise tourist arrivals have demonstrated a significant rebound since the onset of the crisis, surging to 828,400 tourists in 2022 after plummeting to 69,500 in 2021.
The soil testing for the Port Antonio cruise terminal development entails the collection of 22 soil samples at depths ranging from 20 to 30 meters for subsequent laboratory analysis. This task is expected to be completed within an 8-week timeframe.
The construction of the cruise pier is not featured in the Port Authority's major capital projects for the current fiscal year.