High Bids Force West End Terminal Redesign
The Government of the Virgin Islands has scaled back and redesigned the West End Ferry Terminal Redevelopment Project after initial bids came in tens of millions of dollars over budget. Officials paused the process with the Caribbean Development Bank after proposals reached up to 94 million dollars. The project scope has now been adjusted, with plans to reopen the construction tender later this year.
The Government of the Virgin Islands has redesigned the long-delayed West End Ferry Terminal Redevelopment Project after construction bids significantly exceeded the approved budget. The decision to scale back the facility's dimensions aims to keep the critical transportation project aligned with available financial resources.
According to an update from the Ministry of Communications and Works, headed by Minister Hon. Kye Rymer, the original tender produced two bids. One proposal came in at approximately $64 million from a joint venture of two local firms, while a Canadian company submitted a bid of $94 million.
Both figures exceeded the established budget and were deemed unaffordable, prompting officials to pause the initiative with the approval of the Caribbean Development Bank, which is funding the redevelopment under its Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan program. The revised design, developed by German engineering and architectural firm INROS Lackner SE, reduces the overall square footage of the building while retaining essential operational spaces for customs, immigration, and passenger processing.
Comprehensive engineering assessments also confirmed that additional land reclamation remains necessary, as the current site lacks the stability required to support the new terminal. First commissioned in 2021 through a $1.05 million design and supervision contract, the project is a cornerstone of the territory's post-hurricane recovery framework.
The original terminal was destroyed during Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, severely disrupting one of the British Virgin Islands' busiest international sea gateways connecting Tortola with Jost Van Dyke and the United States Virgin Islands. The procurement timeline has encountered multiple setbacks since an initial prequalification round in 2023 failed to secure eligible bidders.
Following updated criteria approved by the Caribbean Development Bank, four firms were shortlisted, yielding the two high-cost submissions in January 2025. Ministry officials stated that while they recognize public disappointment regarding the pace of the project, the retendering process under the revised specifications is slated to reopen later this year to ensure value for money and deliver a modern, resilient facility for residents and visitors alike.
Primary source: JTV