Dock repairs start in George Town as plans advance elsewhere

Repairs have begun at the dock by Lobster Pot in George Town, a year after extensive damages resulted from a powerful nor’wester.

Resident Dane Snowball, who came down to look at the commencement of the work with his two young boys and infant daughter, said the repairs would make it easier for him to get his children on and off his boat.

“We also like walking out on the dock in the evenings. It is somewhere we come to relax and look at the boats and the ships in the harbour,” Snowball said.

Several storms over the course of last year caused significant damage to the public docks across Grand Cayman.

Minister for Infrastructure Jay Ebanks wrote, “The completion of the dock at Lobster Pot is about more than just infrastructure – it’s about supporting families and their way of life.”

At the northern end of Seven Mile Beach, the Jefferson Beach dock in West Bay is also in a state of disrepair. A spokesperson for the ministry said the coastal works approval for that dock just went through on Monday and they are now assessing bids for the four pilings that need to be replaced.

“Work will begin [at Jefferson Beach dock] on completion of the works at the [George Town] Barcadere dock [by Lobster Pot] in 2 to 3 weeks,” the spokesperson wrote.

In an update to Parliament on 7 Feb., Ebanks said they were still waiting for the coastal works permit to be approved for the repairs to the damaged dock by Morgan’s Harbour.

“While we are still awaiting the coastal works permit … our team will continue to prioritize this project,” he wrote.

“We are prepared to move swiftly and efficiently to complete the process as soon as the permit is obtained.”

Ebanks added that the goal is to enhance safe and convenient access to the coastline for families, fishermen and boaters.