The Government of the Virgin Islands has redesigned the long-delayed West End Ferry Terminal Redevelopment Project after construction bids came in tens of millions of dollars above budget, prompting officials to scale back the plans and prepare to reopen the tender process later this year.

In an update issued by the Ministry of Communications and Works, headed by Minister of Communications and Works Hon. Kye Rymer, officials said the original tender process produced two bids — approximately $64 million from a joint venture of two local firms and $94 million from a Canadian company. Both proposals exceeded the approved budget and were deemed unaffordable.

The project was subsequently paused with the approval of the Caribbean Development Bank, which is financing the redevelopment under its Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan program.

The redesigned terminal, prepared by German engineering and architectural firm INROS Lackner SE, reduces the size of the building while retaining core facilities for passenger processing, customs and immigration. The ministry said engineering assessments also confirmed that additional land reclamation will still be required because the existing site is not stable enough to support the new structure.

“The Ministry recognises that this is not the outcome anyone had hoped for,” the statement said, adding that the redesign was necessary to keep the project within available resources.

The West End Ferry Terminal is one of the territory’s main transportation gateways and serves ferries, water taxis, private vessels and charter yachts traveling between Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and the neighboring United States Virgin Islands. Before Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck in September 2017, the terminal handled a significant share of the British Virgin Islands’ sea arrivals and was a critical entry point for tourists and residents.

The existing terminal was severely damaged during the 2017 storms, which disrupted transportation infrastructure across the territory and led to a broader reconstruction effort supported by international financing. The redevelopment project is part of the government’s post-hurricane recovery and resilience program and is intended to improve border security, expand passenger processing capacity and strengthen one of the territory’s most important links to regional travel and tourism.

The project has been in development for several years. In 2021, the government signed a $1.05 million contract with INROS Lackner SE to design the terminal and oversee construction. The original concept called for a modern, climate-resilient facility capable of accommodating growing passenger volumes while providing upgraded customs, immigration and security services.

The procurement process has faced repeated delays. After an initial prequalification exercise in 2023 did not yield qualified bidders, the process was restarted under revised criteria approved by the Caribbean Development Bank. Four firms were eventually shortlisted, and two bids were submitted in January 2025.

Officials said the revised design preserves the project’s essential features while aligning the scope with the approved budget. The Ministry of Communications and Works said the construction tender process is expected to reopen later this year.

“The Ministry understands that people are disappointed with the pace of this project,” the statement said. “Every effort is being made to move the project forward as quickly as possible.”

The West End Ferry Terminal Redevelopment Project is regarded as one of the government’s priority infrastructure initiatives and is expected to play a central role in improving transportation, tourism and economic activity in the Virgin Islands.