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Dock Clean-up By Stephanie Humblestone The government dock in Marsh Harbour has undergone a major clean-up. Since Hurricane Floyd a tremendous amount of freight has gone through the dock leaving in its wake broken pallets and all the discarded trappings of freight transportation. Captain Everette Weatherford began the clean-up process by cleaning up and hosing off the Margarita side of the dock with a fire hose. Also instrumental in cleaning the rundown area was Randy Key, one of the owners of the Duke of Topsail who motivated three young men who are well known drifters in the dock area. "I worked from 7 a.m. to black dark," said Peter Russell, an ex-diver who headed the mission. "Mr. Key put me in charge of caring for the dock, and I found the two other men," he said, referring to fellow Abaconian Joey Williams and one young Haitian national. The three men are resolute on continuing to maintain the once neglected government dock which is screaming out to be replaced. ---- ---- Freight Dock By Stephanie Humblestone Family Island Engineer at the Ministry of Works, Mr. Richard Bruneau, confirmed that two American engineers, Kenneth Bishop and William Bourdier, from Island by Design were dispatched to Abaco on the 14th of September for two days to carry out hydrographic studies and determine water depths and rock elevation for the construction of a new government freight dock in Marsh Harbour. Island by Design is an American Nassau-based engineering marine and environmental company. Heading the project is its chief engineer Keith Bishop, who sent the engineers to determine the quantity of rock and sand to be dredged and gather hydrographic material for marine charts. The firm Cox and Shal are to design the dock for construction. "The building of a new government dock is a major priority for government," said Mr. Bruneau. Just when it will be completed is dependent on many variables such as the progress of pre-engineering works, project design, tender and above all government funding. ---- ---- Carib Freight Expands By Stephanie Humblestone Carib Freight, the Man-O-War based freight company which has been servicing the cays for over twenty five years, is keeping apace with Abaco's phenomenal growth. On the 8th of September a 48-foot tug, a 130-foot long by 30-foot wide flat barge and 50-ton crane was added to their existing fleet of five self-propelled barges. "There have been so many more requirements since the hurricane," said manager William Weatherford, who foresees more freight such as rock and sand being transported from Freeport. "This will make it more cost efficient for the cays," added Mr. Weatherford, who estimates that 95 percent of his business comes from the three main cays, Elbow Cay, Man-O-War Cay and Guana Cay. In addition to this, the new equipment will enable 40-foot containers to be taken to the cays. Mr. Weatherford sees more expansion down the line as more land is purchased and more houses erected on the cays. Even such areas like Lubbers Quarters will have more regular services. "Once a proper dock is built, we will probably do weekly runs there," he said. |
