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17
AIR & SEA TRANSPORT
The transport sector was busy in 2001, with many signs of robust activity even while the Islands felt the effects
of the global economic slowdown. Imports through the Cayman Brac port increased by 25%, while cruise ship
visitors to the Islands rose by 17%. The airline sector was equally active, with two new airlines commencing
flights to the Islands from two busy metropolitan areas. Master plans were commissioned for the development
of the Owen Roberts Airport on Grand Cayman and the Little Cayman Airport. The Gerrard Smith Airport on
Cayman Brac benefited from a $4.5m development programme.
The works sector was also busy with other major projects — the $6.8m Lighthouse School opened, and work
commenced on a $3.8m expansion at the Cayman Islands Health Services Complex. A new dual-way
roundabout and one mile of new road were completed as the Crewe Road Bypass project continued.
Civil Aviation Authority
New Services
The spotlight was on Cayman’s airports in 2001 when
plans and/or major works were initiated at all three sites.
On Grand Cayman, a contract was awarded to Jacobbs
Gibbs in December 2001 for the development of a master
plan for the Owen Roberts Airport. This was scheduled to
include the expansion of the main passenger terminal,
extension of the runway, construction of a parallel taxiway
and additional navigation facilities.
A master plan was also in train for Little Cayman’s
airport, with the signing of a contract for its development.
The contract was awarded to Snyder & Associates, also in
December. The new designated site is located northeast of
the existing airport and the property was in the process of
being cleared by year’s end.
On Cayman Brac, Island Paving/Roy D. McQueen &
Associates completed major works at the Gerrard-Smith
Airport in May at a cost of $4.5m. This included an overlay
of the runway and rehabilitation of the concrete block
paver hardstands, Taxiway “A” and the terminal apron.
Air Jamaica Express commenced flights in May, operating
five days weekly from Kingston, using a 36-seater DASH
8 aircraft. Air Canada commenced direct flights in October,
flying to Grand Cayman from Toronto on Wednesdays
and Sundays.
2000
2001
%
Passengers
972,543
918,214
- 5.5
Freight (lbs)
8,613,448
7 ,444,214
- 13.5
Mail (lbs)
507,291
410,196
- 19.1
Aircraft Movements
24,049
23,573
- 2.0
Passengers
78,569
75,500
- 3.9
Freight (lbs)
377,439
353,109
- 6.4
Mail (lbs)
37,293
28,480
- 23.6
Aircraft Movements
5,073
4,968
- 2.0
Grand Cayman
Cayman Brac
Port Authority..............................................................................................................................196
Vehicle Licensing & Transport Unit............................................................................................196
Public Works Department..........................................................................................................196
Public Works Department Roads Division..................................................................................197
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Aircraft Movements and Security
Port, with six others serving at the Cayman Brac Port.
Due to the events of 11 September 2001 and other global
economic impacts, passenger, freight, mail and aircraft
movements experienced a decline. As has happened
worldwide, expanded security measures have been
implemented since the 11 September events. These new
procedures led to a reconfiguration of the departure areas
at the Owen Roberts Airport.
Background
Prior to the 1970s, port operations in the Cayman Islands
were administered by central government. In mid-1970,
port functions were decentralized. A statutory body, the
Port Authority of the Cayman Islands, was formally
established on 15 September 1976. A board of directors
appointed by the Governor-in-Council governs the
authority. The day-to-day operations are under the control
of the director of ports.
Port Authority of the Cayman Islands
The mission of the Port Authority is to manage efficiently
the maritime affairs of the Cayman Islands and to
accommodate the volume of imports (by sea), through the
provision of adequate docking and cargo handling/
storage facilities. An additional goal is to assist in the
promotion of tourism through the provision of
appropriate arrival facilities for cruise ship passengers.
Vehicle Licensing & Transport Unit
Revenue for the Vehicle Licensing and Transport Unit
rose from $M6.7 to $M7.5, or just over 10.7% in 2000. This
resulted from revenue measures implemented in the
spring, together with improvements in the unit’s system
for calling in outstanding debts and the continued
vigilance of the police in enforcement.
Statistics indicate a clear pattern, starting in 1998, of
decreases in the annual figure for new vehicle
registrations. More licensed vehicles in 2001 than in prior
years, however, suggest a trend towards keeping vehicles
longer (and/or purchasing second-hand vehicles already
in the Islands), with less reliance on importing vehicles.
Aside from collection of revenue, inroads were made
in improving the efficiency and security of the vehicle
licensing computer system. This important system will
have to be continually reassessed and enhanced to maintain
system integrity and safeguard revenue.
2001 In Review
There were 40 cargo ships trading in 2001, making a total
of 324 port calls. Domestic imports through Grand
Cayman’s port, at 192,303 tons, reflected a reduction of
15.8% from 2000. The Cayman Brac port processed 13,552
tons of domestic imports, a 24.9% increase over 2000. The
number of vehicles landed, 2,818, compared to 2,991 in
2000. The Islands’ main source of imports is the United
States, principally Florida, with the exception of cement
and aggregate imports, which come from Freeport,
Bahamas, and Cuba. Some alcoholic beverages and
vehicles are imported from Jamaica.
In 2001 there were 611 cruise ship calls, bringing a
total of 1,213,555 cruise ship visitors to the Islands, an
increase of 17.3% from 2000.
Public Works
The mission of the Public Works Department is to support the
Cayman Islands Government’s provision of public
infrastructure through the most efficient, imaginative and
cost-effective management of design, construction and
maintenance of public buildings, related facilities, and roads.
Facilities
There are two ports of call in the Cayman Islands: the
Grand Cayman Port, in George Town, and the Cayman
Brac Port, at The Creek. In Grand Cayman, the Port
Authority has three locations – the George Town Port
facilities and administrative offices, on Harbour Drive;
the Cargo Distribution Centre, in the Industrial Park; and
administrative offices for billing staff, on Portland Road.
PWD Building Division
The project management and design services of the
department were in demand for a diverse range of projects
in 2001, as the following works illustrate:
Staff Complement
School Facilities
Staff complement in 2001 stood at 96 at the Grand Cayman
Public Works was very active in the education sector in
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Air and Sea Transport
2001. New eight-unit classroom blocks were constructed
at the Bodden Town, Red Bay and Savannah primary
schools. Construction was completed on the new $6.8
million Lighthouse School. The new multi-purpose hall
for the Red Bay Primary School and a major extension to
the administration building at George Hicks High School
were also completed.
Maintenance and Minor Works Projects
In 2001 PWD carried out maintenance activities to 117
government facilities (schools, public buildings, ramps
and jetties, etc.) totalling some 800,000 sq. ft.
A large works programme of minor upgrades to
government facilities was also undertaken in 2001. This
included the award of a contract for the refurbishment of
the two elevators at the government administration
building, with completion anticipated in March 2002.
Prison Facilities
A new waste-water treatment plant was installed at
Northward Prison
Health Services
PWD Road Division
Construction commenced on the new $3.7 million geriatric,
mental health and hospice wing at the George Town Health
Services Complex, with completion projected for June
2002. Work was also underway on the new hospital laundry.
An update of the George Town Health Services Complex
master plan, which started in 2000, was completed in 2001.
In 2001, PWD Road Division continued work on the Crewe
Road Bypass. A new dual lane roundabout and a major
section of road approximately one mile in length were
completed and opened in early December 2001. Works on
the remainder of the road and the roundabout at Bobby
Thompson Way are currently on hold, pending the outcome
of legal proceedings initiated by one of the property
owners affected by the road. It is hoped that this matter will
be resolved and the roadworks completed in 2002.
Post Offices
Construction works commenced on the new West End
Post Office in Cayman Brac with completion scheduled for
April 2002.
Main Road Resurfacing Programme
PWD provided project management services on the first
phase of the new cricket pavilion in West Bay. The
construction works are being carried out directly by the
Cayman Islands Cricket Association, following receipt of
a grant from government. The first phase of funding
carried the project to the first floor level.
The 1999 programme of resurfacing main roads island
wide continued, and contracts that commenced in 2001
were completed. With the completion of those works, the
main road from West Bay Fire Station to the entrance of
East End (with the exception of one mile from Pease Bay
to Breakers to be done in 2002) was resurfaced and the life
of that pavement extended by another 8-12 years.
Government Offices
District Road Programme
Preliminary design work on a major new government
office facility commenced in 2001. Design work is to be
completed in 2002.
In 2001, PWD continued the programme of upgrading
residential roads, addressing surface deterioration and
drainage problems. Twenty-five projects were identified
from an extensive list and carried out as priorities.
Sports Facilities
Civil Aviation Authority
Road Maintenance
PWD assisted the Civil Aviation Authority in developing
tender documentation for the provision of master plans
for Owen Roberts International Airport and the Little
Cayman Airport.
Due to budgetary constraints in 2001, maintenance became
more reactive, and patching became a major activity. The
department's field crews responded to calls from the public,
while addresssing needs pinpointed in their own surveillance
efforts. In many instances roads actually required
reconstruction or second applications of surface treatment,
but this was not possible because of budgetary constraints.
The programme of installing new drainage wells and
maintaining existing ones continued. PWD considers one
of its most important activities to be that of ensuring that
storm water run-off does not adversely affect roadways
and residents in low-lying areas.
Hurricane Preparedness
A major hurricane-strengthening project was completed
at the Aston Rutty Centre, the primary hurricane shelter
in Cayman Brac. The structure and roof were upgraded to
raise the shelter to a Category Five hurricane rating. New
Category-Five-rated hurricane shutters were installed at
three other hurricane shelters in accordance with PWD’s
ongoing upgrading programme.
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Air and Sea Transport
The Hon. McKeeva Bush (far right) receives a gift from
Lagan JV Project manager Colin Murphy, at a ceremony
celebrating the completion of airport renovations in
Cayman Brac while Deputy Director of Civil Aviation
David Frederick (second from right) and a member of the
Lagan JV construction team look on.
Island Air unloads after landing on the newly resurfaced
runway of the Gerard Smith International Airport in Cayman
Brac last June. Other renovations included the resurfacing
of the apron and three aircraft parking stands and the
installation of new runway lights. A drainage system at the
west end of the runway which had sometimes had problems
with flooding during rainy seasons, was also added.
Repairs to the George Town dock area began following
damage from Hurricane Michele in November.
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