Photo by Richard Morais
The artistic impression of what Falmouth will look like in August 2009 as viewed from about the middle of Trelawny Street.

FALMOUTH, Trelawny:

Dubbed 'A Waterfront Experience of Historic Proportion', Falmouth Port is to return to its heyday, when sugar was king and its harbour was one of the most bustling shipping ports in the Caribbean, with a massive multibillion-dollar port and tourism development unprecedented anywhere in the Caribbean set to begin.

The port is to be developed to berth two mega liners simultaneously, measuring 360 metres each with a maximum draught of 93 metres below air and a maximum draught of 65 metres above waterline, along with a 47-metre beam (55.9m at bridge). The liners can carry a maximum of 2,100 people.

If the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) passes the plans for the redevelopment later this month, work could begin on Finger Pier as early as November. If works begins that quickly, plans are for the project to be complete as early as August 9, 2009.

For this to happen the harbour basin will be dredged to a depth of 11.5 metres. The quantum of dredging is 4.4 million cubic metres. A cutter suction dredger, among other mitigating measures, will be used to prevent any loss of reef. The debris from the dredging will be dumped in a safe area offshore.

The pier is described as a finger pier and is to be a suspended concrete deck supported on a foundation of vertical and raking piles, driven into the underlying stratum.

No buildings

The overhaul size is 350 metres long by 30 metres wide. This will accommodate pneumatic berthing fenders, mooring bollards, lighting, water supply lines and safety equipment. It will also accommodate vehicles but no buildings.

Falmouth will relive its Georgian past with cobblestone paths and horse-drawn carriages. This will include the renovation of the wharf, restoration of the historic Tharpe House and Merchant's Square, along with the introduction of trolley services, the establishment of a working foundry and a rum house attraction Other tours are also in the pipelines.

The first phase of this development will cost approximately $17 billion.

Member of Parliament Dr. Patrick Harris is hailing the development as having immeasurable potential.

He said, because it is cruise ship tourism, anybody along the multiplicity of paths guests will go, can develop an attraction.

"It is going to change the tourism climate," he said.

Speaking about the environmental implications, Harris, the founding chairman of the Trelawny Environmental Protection Association (TEPA), said the shoreline will be even more protected by what will be done.

He said there are plans that will serve to protect the coral reef and the world famous luminous lagoon.

- Richard Morais