Above: Tortola (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The expansion of the cruise pier at Road Town, Tortola is projected to cost around $57 million, according to a recently-released fact sheet on the project.

The project is slated to include the lengthening, widening and strengthening of the cruise pier to accommodate larger classes of ships, along with a new five-acre land-side development, among other features.

The latter will feature “retail, commercial, entertainment and green spaces,” according to the BVI Ports Authority; it will be called “Tortola Pier Park.”

The British Overseas Territory has already signed berthing agreements with both Disney and Norwegian Cruise Lines to guarantee 425,000 passenger minimum annual performance.

Starting May 1, 2015, the passenger tax will increase from $7 to $15.

The territory is anticipating a minimum of 650,000 passenger arrivals for the 2015/2016 season.