The Virgin Islands Port Authority says dredging in Charlotte Amalie Harbor is scheduled to begin by October 12 under a contract with Orion Marine Construction valued at up to $41.927 million. Orion will have 365 days from the start of dredging to complete the contracted work.
The project covers the harbor entrance channel, turning basin and West Indian Company berth pocket. VIPA says the work is intended to improve navigational access for larger vessels and maintain safe operating conditions after years of planning that began in 2008.
Phase one, scheduled from October 2026 through March 2027, will remove non-beach-quality material and transport it by vessel to St. Croix. The material will be dewatered at the Gordon A. Finch Molasses Pier in Krause Lagoon before being trucked to a disused quarry north of Henry E. Rohlsen Airport.
Phase two, planned from March through October 2027, will move beach-quality material to the Crown Bay Cargo Port and then to the former Addelita Cancryn Junior High School property. VIPA says cruise calls should continue and individual work periods may shift around marine operations, weather and ship schedules.
The Legislature has allocated $23 million toward the dredging through two acts. VIPA also reports that a separate $2.53 million demolition and site-preparation project at the former Cancryn property is largely complete, with remaining work expected by the end of 2026.
VIPA should publish a public project dashboard with the actual start date, monthly progress, contract payments and change orders, water-quality monitoring results, trucking routes and any adjustments affecting cruise calls or nearby neighborhoods.
Source published September 18, 2026. Read the original reporting or release for the complete record.
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