An excavator valued at over EC$3 million that was bought by the government to complete long-stalled dredging work at St John’s Harbour and Crabb’s Harbour, has arrived in Antigua.
The Caterpillar 6015 excavator, purchased in the Netherlands for approximately 1.1 million euros, is expected to resume critical dredging operations that have been suspended for several years.
According to officials, the excavator will be used in partnership with Blue Ocean Dredging to clear the way for larger cruise ships and LNG vessels.
The government reported that approximately 20,000 cubic meters of rock and 120,000 cubic meters of maintenance dredging are required at St John’s Harbor, while about 150,000 cubic meters of dredging work is needed at Crabbs.
The purchase resulted from a new partnership between the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, the Ministry of Works, and Blue Ocean Dredging Company.
