a p virgin islands port authority winter newsletter vol 10...since the virgin islands port authority...

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A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PORT AUTHORITY

February 11, 2014 marks the 45th year since the Virgin Islands Port Authority was established by the Seventh Legislature of the

US Virgin Islands.

The VI Port Authority is last in a line of federal and local government agencies to manage the USVI’s ports. The US Navy was the administrator of the islands and managers of the port facilities when the United States purchased St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John for $25 million in gold in 1917 to improve military positioning during critical times of World War I. The US made a wartime decision to construct a submarine base on the island of St. Thomas. A naval airbase also replaced the modest airstrip located at Bourne Field in

Volume 10 Issue 1 www.viport.com 2014 Winter Edition

Lindbergh Bay with a military air hangar and

600-foot runway.

The military’s need for the U.S. Virgin

Islands ended, and from 1931 through 1969, the control of the ports was turned over to the US Department of Interior which managed the former military properties in the US

The Bourne Field Naval Aviation Base, which eventually

became the Harry S. Truman Airport and renamed the

Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas.

The expansion of the parking lot at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport should be completed by the end of February. VIPA added 100 new parking spaces to the existing 330 spaces in the lot. The project was funded by the Port Authority in its Fiscal

Year 2013 and 2014 budget, and costs about $514,000.

The HERA apron rehabilitation project began in December. This $4.1 million project contracted to Virgin Islands Paving, Inc. should be completed by the end of 2014. Funding for this project came from a discretionary grant from the Federal

Aviation Administration —the first issued for HERA since 2002.

Rohlsen Airport Projects In Progress In This Issue From the Board Room---------.2

CEKA Renovations----..------3

How the Omnibus Bill Affects VIPA --.....4

VIPA 45th Anniversary -----....-...5-9

Ovesen Seaplane Terminal Naming .--.10

Crown Bay Center Dialysis Center -...-.11

Events ---------------.12

HERA Projects (page 4)

Anniversary (page 5)

VIPA Portfolio—Winter 2014

VIPA Board Amends its Bylaws

The Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Governing Board voted to amend its bylaws at its Nov. 20, 2013 meeting to remove the position of “Deputy Executive Director” as an officer of the Authority. The Board also replaced the position of “Director of Administration and Finance” with the new position “Chief Financial Officer” as an

officer of the Port.

The Board bylaws were originally adopted on Dec. 20, 1995 as a set of rules and regulations to govern the management of the Port

Authority’s Governing Board.

The VIPA Portfolio is published by: The Virgin Islands Port Authority P.O. Box 301707 St. Thomas, VI 00803-1707 Tel: (340) 774-1629 Fax: (340) 774-0025 Web site: www.viport.com E-mail: [email protected] Honorable John P. de Jongh Jr. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Honorable Gregory L. Francis Lt. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Mr. Robert O’Connor Jr. Chairperson of the Board Private Sector Member, St. John The Honorable Darryl Smalls, P.E. Vice Chairperson of the Board Commissioner of Public Works The Honorable Albert Bryan Jr. Secretary of the Board Chairman, Economic Development Authority Board and Commissioner of Labor Mr. Allison Petrus Private Sector Member, St. Thomas The Honorable Beverly Nicholson-Doty Commissioner of Tourism The Honorable Vincent Frazer, Esq. Attorney General Dr. Yvonne E. L. Thraen Private Sector Member, St. Thomas Mr. Manuel Gutierrez Private Sector Member, St. Croix Mr. Carlton Dowe Executive Director Mr. David W. Mapp Assistant Executive Director Monifa A. Marrero Editor & Layout Assistant Editors Byron Todman, Damali Rogers; Julice Harley and Gail L. Chinnery Photography Don Hebert Jose Nazario Monifa Marrero

Established on Feb. 11, 1969, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) is a semi-autonomous agency that owns and manages the two airports and the majority of the public seaports in the United States Virgin Islands. We are also charged with controlling the harbors in the territory. VIPA is a critical arm of the USVI economy, and is committed to maintaining and developing the airports and seaports of the territory to accommodate the current and future demands of its users. The Port Authority is self-supporting and receives no tax revenues from the U.S. Virgin Islands government.

Board Elects New Officers

Other board members include:

♦ Vincent Frazer, Esq., Attorney General

♦ Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Tourism Commissioner

♦ Manuel Gutierrez, Private Sector STX

♦ Allison Petrus, Private Sector STT

♦ Dr. Yvonne E. L. Thraen, Private Sector STT

Robert O’Connor Jr.

Chairman

Private Sector Rep. STJ

Darryl Smalls, P.E.

Vice Chairman

Public Works Commissioner

Albert Bryan Jr.

Secretary

EDA Chairman/Labor Commissioner

1969—2014 From the Board RoomFrom the Board RoomFrom the Board RoomFrom the Board RoomFrom the Board RoomFrom the Board RoomFrom the Board RoomFrom the Board Room


CEKA Gets Major Facelift After 20+ Years

Most airports need a major overhaul at its 20-year mark. The Cyril E. King Airport Terminal, which was completed in 1989 is in need of major repairs in several areas of the terminal and external areas that support airport activities. VI Port Authority’s engineering and aviation staff met with the airline representatives and airport tenants in Dec. 2013 to brief them on major airport projects underway and planned for the

King Airport.

The expansion of the baggage claim area of the terminal began in January. Renovations include new and larger restroom facilities, the relocation of the concession area, the addition of a third baggage belt, a fresh coat of paint and new terrazzo flooring. The $3.9 million project contracted to Custom Builders should be

completed by November.

The entire perimeter fence of the King Airport is being replaced with a seven-foot high black vinyl-coated chain link fence. This project includes the reconstruction of the air cargo security check point guard house and a new electronically-operated security gate in that area. This $890,800 project contracted to Island Roads should begin in February and will take about five

months to complete.

VIPA is in the final stages of preparing drawings to construct a dedicated taxi exit lane to alleviate traffic at the King Airport. These

drawings should be completed within 90 days.

The CEKA General Aviation Ramp reconstruction will also begin in February. The parking area for private jets is being replaced with a thicker layer of concrete. The $5.1 million project contracted to Island Roads Corporation

will take 12 months to complete.

The single-ply flat deck roofing of the King Terminal is being replaced. New exhaust fans are also being installed and sky lights and vents are being repaired. This $3.2 million project contracted to J. Benton Construction, LLC will be

completed by the end of February.

The reconstruction of Taxiway Alpha East, expansion of the concrete apron outside gates one through four and repairs of Runway 10’s position pavement is significantly completed. The $10.2 million project contracted to Better Roads Asphalt

Paving Corporation is expected to be finished in April.

The electrical room expansion and the purchase of a new generator are slated to be completed next year. VIPA Executive Director Dowe said, “VIPA is also exploring options to eventually utilize the second floor of the terminal for airport-related activities and maximize the use of every square foot of the terminal to make the traveler’s experience at the King Airport as

comfortable and pleasant as possible.”

A major overhaul of the CEKA baggage claim area began in

January and should be completed by November.

The CEKA Taxiway A East Rehabilitation project will be

completed by April.


Act No. 7574 was signed into law on Nov. 22 and includes two policy changes that will significantly improve the financial stability of the Virgin Islands Port Authority, according to the Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Executive

Director Carlton Dowe.

Section 4 of Act No. 7574 amends Title 30 of the Virgin Islands Code, which will allow VIPA to generate up to five megawatts via photovoltaic solar cells on the island of St. Croix. “The Port Authority constructed a photovoltaic solar panel system at the Cyril King Airport in 2012 through a grant issued by the U.S. Energy Department. We have realized a savings of about $250,000 annually since its installation, and we plan to expand the system. Currently there is no solar system at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. We intend to duplicate the system we have at CEKA in St. Croix and hope to realize comparable

savings,” said Dowe.

Section 13 amends Title 29 of the VI Code to limit judgments against the VI Port Authority in

Omnibus Bill Positively Affects Port Authority’s Financial Stability

excess of $75,000 in any suit or action taken against the Authority with respect to any injury, loss of property, personal injury or death. This change will save the Port Authority thousands in liability cases. Dowe said insurance companies have paid out considerable sums on behalf of the Port Authority in lawsuits. This has driven up

VIPA’s insurance premiums, he said.

Dowe added that the Port Authority is a self-sustaining, semi-autonomous agency that must continue to reduce expenses where possible and

increase our revenues.

“Any law that helps secure the financial stability of the Port Authority is well received. We appreciate the assistance from our lawmakers and Governor de Jongh by providing legislation that will help the Authority to reduce its utility bill, as well as place a cap on our liability. Both measures will help us to remain financially sound and continue to provide safe, first-rate port

facilities for our visitors and residents,” he said.

Construction of a new Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting building at HERA is in the planning stages. VIPA is paying Ricondo and Associates $152,812 to design building plans for the new

ARFF facility.

VIPA is trying to determine a more efficient method to move foreign passengers through the HERA Terminal. The Board awarded a $132,406 contract to Ricondo and Associates to develop plans that will address the security concerns of foreign arrivals commingling with domestic travelers. This study is key to accommodate the Danish Charters that regularly arrive on St. Croix. The study is funded via an Airport Improvement Program grant from the Federal Aviation

Administration.

HERA (continued from page 1)

VIPA added 100 new spaces to the Rohlsen Airport’s parking lot.

Work is also being done on the HERA Terminal Apron, and a study

is being conducted to address the issue of foreign arrival

passengers co-mingling with travelers arriving from the United

States. An new fire fighter building is also being designed for HERA.


Virgin Islands and some farmlands on St. Croix via the federal agency, The Virgin Islands

Corporation (VI Corp).

VI Corp was a wholly-owned federal government corporation approved by the US Congress on June 30, 1949 and amended on Sep. 2, 1958. The Corporation operated the territory's electric power facilities and newly constructed salt water distillation facility on St. Thomas. VI Corp managed the submarine base, the St. Thomas airport, 80 housing-units rented to federal and insular government employees and private individuals, 6 hotels, 1 guesthouse, 4 piers, a beach club, a golf course and clubhouse, about 35 additional buildings, 3 water systems, transportation equipment, and other miscellaneous units. Dr. Kenneth Bartlett served as president, followed by former Massachusetts state senator, Robert “Bob”

Cramer.

On May 28, 1965, VI Corp sold its electric and desalination plants to the government of the Virgin Islands. In 1966, the Department of Interior transferred the management of the ports to a newly developed agency named The Virgin

Islands Airport and Industrial Development

Agency. The agency managed the airport on St. Croix which opened in 1950, the airport on St. Thomas, and the submarine base on St. Thomas. Alton Adams Jr., an engineer born in St. Thomas, was the agency’s first and only executive director. The agency managed a fairly self-sustaining marine division, but was faced with operational and equipment issues at the territory’s airports which were used as former naval hangars and would now be used for

commercial air traffic.

The USVI Legislature passed Act 2375 which established The Virgin Islands Port Authority on December 24, 1968. Act 2405 set the date of establishment of the Authority as February 11, 1969 which is recognized as VIPA's official anniversary date. VIPA was charged with

Anniversary (continued from page 1)

the ownership and management of the territory's

public air and seaports.

Alton Adams Jr. continued as the agency's executive director until he resigned in Sept. 1971. He was succeeded by Jack M. Monsanto of St. Thomas (1971-1975), John E. Harding of St. Thomas (1975-1991), Gordon A. Finch of St. Croix (1991–2002) and Darlan Brin of St. Thomas (2003-2008). Kenn Hobson, who is originally from Nevis but a longtime resident of St. Thomas, served as the director of the agency from 2008 until his retirement in Feb. 2012. Attorney Don. C. Mills served as interim executive director from Feb. 2012 until Jan. 2013. Former USVI senator Carlton Dowe of St. Thomas was selected as executive director on Jan. 16, 2013 and currently heads the

Authority.

Today, the VI Port Authority manages some of the busiest and modern air and seaport facilities in the Caribbean. Since its establishment in 1969, the Authority constructed new airport terminals and extended the runways on both St. Thomas and St. Croix. The agency also constructed several new seaports - and today manages a combination of 14 cruise, cargo and ferry seaports. VIPA is one of the largest government land owners in the territory with a complex portfolio of aviation, marine, beachfront and multi-industrial use properties. VIPA’s vision is to continue to improve its ports to ensure a first-class and memorable entry and exit

experience for the travelling public.

Christiansted Harbor, St. Croix (Circa 1940s)


Originally a naval submarine base constructed during the US Navy’s administration of the Virgin Islands, the Crown Bay

ports have been developed into a first-class cruise pier, an upscale marina and a cargo port. The Crown Bay Center mall

was completed in 2005 to compliment the adjacent Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal cruise ship dock.

45 Years of Growth & Development

The US Navy constructed the Charlotte Amalie Harbor Waterfront Bulkhead in the 1940s. Today it is host to mega yachts,

an inter-island ferry terminal and a seaplane facility connecting the USVI to other Caribbean islands.


The Theovald Eric Moorehead Dock and Terminal at Enighed Pond was developed into a cargo port in 2006 to alleviate cargo

congestion in Cruz Bay, St. John. A new administrative building at the port was completed in 2013.

The Loredon Lawrence Boynes Sr. Dock serves as the primary ferry port on

St. John. What was once just a wooden platform is now a concrete dock

with an open-air, covered terminal with seating and ticket sale offices

located in the heart of Cruz Bay.

The Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal has been transformed from a basic dock and parking area into a facility equipped

to handled inter-island ferry passengers with new docking facilities, restaurants and a comfortable terminal completed in 2007.


The Bourne Field landing strip on St. Thomas was developed into a US Navy Military Hangar during World War II. It was known

as the Harry S. Truman Airport until 1984, when it was renamed to honor Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of

the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new terminal opened in November 1990 and is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean.

The former Alexander Hamilton Airport was opened in the 1950’s. It was renamed after local aviator Henry E. Rohlsen in 1996.

The new terminal and runway expansion were completed in 2000.

The busy harbor of Christiansted serves small cruise and cargo vessels. The dock in Gallows Bay was constructed in the

1960s and has been reinforced and repaired over the years. VIPA has plans to develop a marina in Gallows Bay.

45 Years of Growth & Development


The Third Port was originally constructed in 1982 by the Hess Corporation and expanded in 1987. It was named the Wilfred

“Bomba” Allick Port and Transshipment Center. This facility on south shore of St. Croix serves as the major cargo port on

St. Croix and transships to many other Caribbean ports.

The Gordon A. Finch Molasses Pier, completed in 1998, is located in Krause Lagoon and sits on an eight-acre site on the south

shore of St. Croix. It provides docking space for cable vessels, cable storage, molasses and aggregate vessels.

The Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility is the primary cruise port on St. Croix. VIPA has expanded the dock to be able to

accommodate the largest cruise vessels in the deep water harbor of Frederiksted. The new pier was completed in 1994.


Svend Aage Ovesen Jr. Seaplane Terminal Ceremony

Family members,

friends, government

officials and

members of the

community joined

the Virgin Islands

Port Authority as

they commemorated

the naming of the

seaplane terminal in

honor of the late

aviator, Svend Aage Ovesen Jr. Ovesen died on

April 15, 2002, when his twin engine propeller

aircraft crashed into a car dealership in Puerto Rico

while flying a chartered medical evacuation.

In Dec. 2011, an amendment sponsored by

former Senators Usie R. Richards and Neville

James named the seaplane terminal in Christiansted,

St. Croix in his honor via Bill 29-0070.

About 150 people gathered for the ceremony on

Oct. 30, 2013. Ovesen’s son, Gerald Ovesen, spoke

on behalf of the family. Other speakers included

Richards, James, Lt. Gov. Gregory R. Francis, Sen.

Shawn-Michael Malone, VIPA Executive Director

Carlton Dowe, Seaborne Airlines Chief Executive

Officer Gary Foss, and Cpt. Irving

Clifford, a former co-pilot and friend of

the late Cpt. Ovesen. Ovesen’s widow,

another son and daughter, Kraigg Ovesen

and Karole Ovesen-McGregor, also

attended the ceremony.

Ovesen was born in Frederiksted in

1942 to Svend and Josephine Ovesen. In

spite of his untimely passing, Captain

Ovesen’s legend as a first-rate pilot lives

on in the hearts of the Crucian community

he served. His accomplishments in

avionics have also been recorded in history.

Ovesen and co-pilot Irvine Clifford set two speed

records from the controls of an III Astra AJ24 jet

on April 17, 1995 from St. Croix to New York

City—with an average speed of 380.8 miles per

hour (612.86 kilometers per hour). On April 20,

1995, a second record was set from Boca Raton,

Florida to Christiansted, St. Croix with an average

speed of 477.9 miles per hour (769.13 kilometers

per hour). Both men set a Speed Over a

Recognized Course record established by the

Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the

world air sport and record organization based in

Paris, France. The air-speed records have been

submitted as national USVI records, and to FAI as

world records for planes of similar types and sizes.

The proposal to name the seaplane terminal in

Christiansted, St. Croix in his honor was presented

via Bill No. 29-0070, sponsored by Senators

Neville A. James, Usie R. Richards, Ronald E.

Russell, Samuel Sanes, Celestino A. White, Sr. and

Patrick Simeon Sprauve. The bill was signed into

law when Governor John de Jongh Jr. signed Act.

7335 on December 28, 2011.

Svend Aage Ovesen Jr.


Construction of the St. Thomas Dialysis Center began in October. The new center will serve visitors and the community that are dependant on the life-saving hemodialysis procedure for outpatients with kidney problems. The center, which will be located on the second floor of the Crown Bay Center mall at the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal on St. Thomas (above First Bank), and is expected to be

completed by April 2014.

VIPA has taken a very aggressive approach in allowing the new state of the art dialysis center to operate at their mall in Crown Bay to augment dialysis treatment centers for our residents and to simultaneously provide a venue for our tourists to receive treatment while vacationing on St. Thomas,”

said Rudell Chinnery, manager of the Dialysis Center.

The St. Thomas Dialysis Center will serve the community, cruise ship passengers, air passengers and transients. Chinnery said they also hope to encourage residents that have moved off island for regular dialysis treatment to return home when the center opens and offers this service. Chinnery said that the center will also be able to accommodate our guests in their hotel rooms by using portable dialysis devices. The St. Thomas Dialysis Center will have their own transportation system and will be

able to pick up dialysis patients from their homes and bring them to the facility for treatment.

Chinnery added that the center will have the full capability to provide excellent dialysis services to patients. “One of our primary goals is to stimulate the local workforce by training and hiring qualified candidates. We have teamed with the University of the Virgin Islands, and will jointly be providing the

public with class information and rollout dates for the certified dialysis technician program,” he said.

Kidney Dialysis Center Under Construction at Crown Bay Center

The CEKA 2014 Tabletop Airport

Emergency Plan exercise was

conducted on St. Thomas by Airport

Manager Jose Nazario and his staff

Bernard Birmingham, Myrtle Thomas and

K. Gwen Gumbs.

Seatrade Celebrates 50 Years and VIPA Will Be There to Represent the USVI

The Virgin Islands Port Authority in

conjunction with the Department of Tourism

and the West Indian Company, Ltd. will jointly

host an exhibit at the 50th Annual Seatrade

Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami Beach

Florida, March 10-13. The USVI booth

displays printed and electronic brochures

showcasing the culture and attractions of the

territory, along with photographs, cultural

dancers and locally produced products.

VI Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe, Director

of Engineering Dale Gregory and Cyril E. King Airport

Manager Jose Nazario were guests on the local talk show,

Face to Face with Addie Ottley on WTJX in October. The

VIPA officials informed the public about major projects in

progress at the Authority’s airports on St. Thomas and

St. Croix, and plans to improve the airports to make them

competitive with other airports in the Caribbean.

VIPA continues to make adjustments to the lights

along the Cyril E. King Airport’s main road to make it

brighter and safer for pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

Employee get-togethers

sponsored by VIPA’s

management have been

successful at building

employee camaraderie and

boosting work-place morale.

The annual VIPA Christmas

Party was held on St. Croix

in the Cruise Lounge of the

Rohlsen Airport Terminal.

For the first time, an

employee fish fry was held

on St. Thomas at VIPA’s

Lindbergh Bay Park.

a p virgin islands port authority winter newsletter vol 10...since the virgin islands port authority...

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