Thursday night’s meeting of the Virgin Islands Port Authority on St. John was not like any other in recent memory.
Instead of being presided over by (now former) executive director Carlton Dowe at the Legislative Annex in Cruz Bay, this meeting was a more informal gathering with Port Authority officials stationed at tables in the cafeteria of the Julius E. Sprauve School.
“We’re using a different format tonight,” said VIPA public information officer Monifa Brathwaite. “It’s more designed for public engagement before we plan. We want to hear from you!”
It was the third VIPA public information meeting held this week (the meeting on St. Croix was held on Tuesday and the meeting on St. Thomas was held on Wednesday) and it was the most lightly attended, according to officials.
Unlike prior more formal meetings, members of the public had the opportunity to wander to different stations to speak directly to officials and get the latest updates on ongoing projects for St. John. (See below.)
Port Authority staff handed out surveys which can be accessed through this QR code and encouraged community members to use an online interactive map to make comments for improvements at VIPA facilities throughout the islands.
The information will be used to plan stronger, more resilient ports in the territory as the islands face risks such as storms, rising sea levels, and changing market conditions over the next 25 years, according to a press release.
VIPA officials are using the acronym C.H.A.R.T. — Comprehensive Harbor Advancement and Resilience Transformation — as a term for their ongoing strategic planning process. The public input period is set to end May 25 but may be extended.
Loredon L. Boynes Sr. Dock in Cruz Bay needs repairs
Preston Beyer, VIPA’s director of engineering, said meeting goers had already expressed their unhappiness with the condition of the Loredon L. Boynes Sr. ferry dock in Cruz Bay. Starting in 2023, improvements were made at the dock including the installation of bathrooms and the expansion of the roof over the passenger waiting area.
But shortly after the work was completed in 2025, half of the passenger waiting area was closed off when officials learned that the rebar supporting the structure under the east side near the ticket booth had rusted out.
Since then, passengers have been restricted from using half the waiting area. “It’s deplorable,” said St. John resident Beverly Lockett. “Everybody has to line up in the sun and the rain to buy tickets.”
Beyer said the dock project in Cruz Bay is being bundled with seven other marine projects throughout the territory, and qualified contractors are now being sought. Some of those projects require permits from Coastal Zone Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but VIPA is prioritizing repairs to the ferry dock in Cruz Bay and to the Anne E. Abramson Marine Facility, the cruise ship pier in Frederiksted on St. Croix.
The work in Cruz Bay requires specialized methods, according to Beyer. The caps which sit on pilings need to be replaced, and although the caps sit above the waterline, the work has to be undertaken in the cramped space beneath the dock. He did not give a timeline for the repairs to begin.
Design for Enighed Pond Community Park is 60% complete
In 2025, VIPA presented its plan to construct a park near the gravel lot on filled land next to the barge terminal near Cruz Bay. The park will serve as a venue for public events like carnival activities.
VIPA received $400,000 in funding from the Legislature to complete the design, and the territory has set aside $10 million from the Southern Trust Company settlement (on property owned by Jeffrey Epstein) for initial construction.
Scott Lagueux, director of waterfront planning for Moffatt & Nichol, the design company that advises the Port Authority, said that costs will exceed $10 million. He said the project will be completed in phases. “Once people see it (underway,) usually the rest of the money sees a way to roost,” he said. “We hope people are as excited about it as they were at the last meeting.”
Derelict boats in Enighed Pond cause concern
For years, residents have complained about the increasing number of derelict boats on the southern side of Enighed Pond opposite the Theovald E. Moorehead Marine Terminal, the barge facility near Cruz Bay.
One resident said he counted 12 semi-submerged vessels in the pond which are an eyesore in addition to being hazardous to marine traffic.
Joseph Cranston Jr., VIPA’s marine manager, said he couldn’t confirm that derelict number of vessels. He said one vessel is owned by Love City Car Ferries, five are owned by Global Marine, and the others are owned by companies which are no longer in business.
But Cranston said VIPA has no authority over the areas where these derelict vessels are located. The Department of Planning and Natural Resources has jurisdiction over these areas, and that agency bears the responsibility for removing the vessels. He said locals need to speak out about the problem if they want to see it addressed.
VIPA has no presence in Coral Bay
In terms of planning for the future, it seems obvious that Coral Bay on the east end of the island should be considered for improvements. Coral Bay residents have said that the community needs a facility for a barge to land in the event of an emergency or to transport heavy items like the long-promised generators for Coral Bay.
After Hurricane Irma, many boaters from Puerto Rico and St. Croix brought emergency supplies into Coral Bay but were hampered by the lack of a facility to offload food, drinking water, building materials and other necessities. The community’s one small dinghy dock is sometimes submerged during high tides.
But according to Ava Penn, VIPA’s interim director, all of the property surrounding Coral Bay is privately owned. Penn said VIPA typically acquires property through the Virgin Islands Government for its projects, but neither VIPA nor the government owns any waterfront property in Coral Bay. She said construction of marine facilities in Coral Bay will depend on private developers.
Other topics include seaplane service and airport water quality
Meeting goers had the chance to talk to VIPA officials about issues involving cargo facilities, cruise ship passengers, climate change and initiatives such as reinstating seaplane service to Cruz Bay. Cranston said it wasn’t clear if there was space for seaplane activity given the number of moorings in use in Cruz Bay, but proponents were welcome to leave their comments online
And although airport improvements were not part of the agenda on Thursday, several people mentioned to VIPA staff the lack of free drinking water at Cyril E. King Airport. Beyer said, “The community asks for this all of the time. WAPA water has been tested and is not safe to drink, and it’s costly to install filters, but airport design is in transition.” VIPA is redeveloping the airport in a partnership with Sky City.
