GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Advertisements are to appear in local and international media on Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, seeking proposals for civil engineering design works of the proposed cruise berthing facility.

Successful tenders will pre-qualify with the Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport to take part in the full tender process scheduled next month.

The Ministry is continuing to act on orders from Cabinet to move forward with discussions on the strategy with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, engage cruise lines on the commercial terms regarding the proposed cruise berthing facility and review plans for the least possible environmental impact of the facility including repositioning of the piers. Cabinet has already accepted the Environmental Impact Statement for the project.

In order to negotiate with the cruise lines for a financing model, the Ministry must obtain detailed civil engineering designs that include costs to construct the cruise berthing facility.

“My Ministry continues to have productive discussions with cruise lines in relation to their involvement in the berthing facility and contact has been made with the FCO,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Hon. Moses Kirkconnell. “This next step of civil engineering design works represents significant progress and is needed for the financing model of the cruise lines.

“The construction of a cruise berthing facility is a project that the Progressives campaigned on and pledged in our election manifesto to deliver for the people of the Cayman Islands,” said Mr. Kirkconnell. “Government believes it has the mandate of the people to deliver on that pledge and this project is considered a priority.”

The Ministry remains committed to keeping the country informed as the cruise berthing project progresses.

IMAGE: Baird