West End Ferry Terminal Project faces review as bids soar $79M over budget
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), gave the disclosure on February 17, 2025, after Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5), told the House of Assembly (HoA) a week earlier—February 13, 2025—bids would be publicly opened the following day for the two shortlisted potentials.
Of four shortlisted firms, two submitted bids–A joint venture of two Virgin Islands companies placed a bid of approximately $64 million, while a Canadian firm submitted a bid of approximately $94 million—both significantly surpassing the allocated budget.
In light of the development, RDA in its missive informed, it has taken steps to reassess the project’s priorities and that,“while market conditions, cost fluctuations, and global economic factors play a role in project estimates, the substantial difference between our budget and the received bids necessitates a strategic review.”
As such, the RDA said, “...after careful deliberation, we have decided to undertake a comprehensive review of the Statement of Requirements (SoR) and the overall project needs.”
This re-assessment, according to the RDA, will focus on certified operating requirements, value engineering, and a potential reduction in the project’s size and scope to ensure financial sustainability.
Annual Capacity—200,000
Apprising the House of Assembly (HoA) on the terminal, on February 13, 2025, Minister Rymer had noted that “….prior to the devastating hurricanes of 2017, West End was the busiest seaboard in the Virgin Island; In 2016, an impressive 41 percent of all sea arrivals and 31 percent of total arrivals into the territory were processed through this facility.”
These figures, he said, illustrate the terminal’s critical role in the VI’s tourism and trade sectors. Detailing the proposed terminal’s capabilities, he said, it will include accommodating a minimum of three ferries at a time, processing up to 200 passengers per hour, and handling an annual capacity of 200,000 passengers.
"The new terminal will fully comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and feature a detention center for individuals displaying erratic behavior, as well as separate quarantine areas for individuals and animals."
Acknowledging regional developments, Minister Rymer also noted that the US Virgin Islands is also planning to upgrade its facilities, particularly at Red Hook in St. Thomas, to improve security and passenger experience and as such, "...our terminal must reflect these advancements to maintain efficiency and safety for our passengers.”
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11 Responses to “West End Ferry Terminal Project faces review as bids soar $79M over budget”
Anyone in their right mind knew that a "World Class" ferry dock terminal proposed in West End will not be a cheap adventure, repeat, will not be a cheap adventure, but rather a high cost one.
The VIP government then lead by the former Premier Knew that, and so does the current one, and other members of his cabinet.
Only some school children, some wishful thinkers, some senior citizens, and others are unaware of this facts. But by the pace of high rasing cost of structural materials, those of us that calculate well, and know that regularly political leaders exaggerating tactics, we know better. Are you on the same line of the page with us, or are you off page? Maybe, probably, uh, think so. If you don't, It time you you to joint the know so group.
The knowledge of the Most is inexustible, but also does His unfeine love, wisdom, faith, and power.
If that was proffessionally done, they should have been able to tell the architects and contractors to design a concept that costa in the region of 15 mil, not come up with some grandiouso design that boosts egos.
We built the airport for less than that. Didnt the entire pier park cost less than that ?
Who oh why can we not build this within our means.
The wqy things are right now, even if we sign a 68 mill contract, it will end up with over runs like everything else.
We should be utilizing the pier park as a ferry terminal ( just like we did after Irma..worked really well, this would reduce that horrible congestion in roadtown, and carefully plan a reasonable ferry terminal at west end , with local character, efficient transit processs. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
RDA did this i think 5 times when trying to get the derelict boats removed...cried wolf, had their own budget and when bids were submitted, cried wolk again and again and here we are, no ine will bid on the removal any more and 7 years on, boats are still here.
No one in RDA has the ability to draft estimates for this ferry dock at west end, so how on earth can they come up with a budget/ estimate for it.
Useless waste of time. 2 years this has been going on and still absolutly not closer to anything
I'm not talking about this design only, but also pass designs and engineering.