The West Indian Co. Ltd. has finalized a single tariff of $13.40 per passenger for all cruise lines berthing at its docks in St. Thomas and St. John, according to a statement from WICO. The new tariff goes into effect in October of 2016.
The new tariff, announced at the WICO board’s Dec. 17 meeting, follows the board’s decision in August to charge Chief Executive Officer and President Joseph Boschulte with negotiating with cruise lines on WICO’s behalf.
The board also authorized Boschulte to finalize contractual agreements with cruise lines yet to be announced to secure exclusive berthing agreements effective October 2016.
It also tasked Boschulte with financial negotiations for previously authorized work to encapsulate the St. Thomas dock’s inner berth. The inner berth is the oldest section of WICO’s dock infrastructure and this hardening and upgrade is necessary to maintain and protect its structural integrity, according to WICO.
Work on this project is expected to begin during the summer of 2016. The V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Division of Coastal Zone Management has given its approval, and approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is under review.
Boschulte and the board are working on planning upgrades and improvements to Havensight Mall, which WICO manages for the V.I. Government Employee Retirements System.
