The Rio Bueno Port, developed by Tank-Weld Group at a cost of more than US$50 million ($3.6 billion), is slated to welcome its first ship in September 2008.When in September 2006, Tank-Weld Group announced its acquisition of the port of Rio Bueno from the Hendrickson Group, Tank-Weld's Chris Bicknell also indicated that the company was going to invest significant capital there to create a hub for the importation of hardware, including steel, cement and lumber. The development of the port would spring to life the sleepy rural town of Rio Bueno, both during the construction phase and also from the economic activities generated by the port.
Tank-Weld points out that the facility has been built predominantly by local talent. Founding partner and engineer, John Greaves, says the only foreign input was the design, which was done by NIRAS from Denmark
The construction phase has seen piling to a depth of 200 feet on the sea floor (Rio Bueno being the third-deepest natural harbour in the Caribbean) and the construction of a 600-ft long, 50 ft-wide wharf, all in record time.