Above: Montserrat

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The planned port project in Montserrat’s Carr’s Bay has reached the 90 percent design stage, the territory’s government said.

Last week, representatives from consulting firm Halcrow presented on the plans for the port. The government approved a new design concept for the town at Little Bay last year, which included a shifting of the port plans to Carr’s Bay.

Part of the design includes a drop in the projected costs of the project to $96 million from $117 million, with the planned marina estimated to cost $50 million. The marina, however, will be handled separately by the Montserrat Development Corporation.

According to the current plans, the docking facilities will be able to accommodate cruise vessels up to 294 metres and will allow fuel vessels to unload at the docks instead of staying offshore.

The overall port project is now slated to occupy 4.22 acres, smaller than the originally planned 5.49 acres.