Bryan convened first meeting of Marine Task Force on Dec. 31

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. convened the first meeting of the administration’s Marine Task Force on Dec. 31, 2019, according to Government House.

The task force was described as a group of private-sector representatives from the marine industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands. At its inaugural meeting, participants discussed marine infrastructure, increasing moorings across the territory, apprenticeship programs, development potential at Benner Bay on St. Thomas, expansion of marine service industries, and streamlining the U.S. Customs process.

Government House said action items from the meeting included identifying derelict properties around Benner Bay Lagoon and Salt River Bay, identifying government properties for vessel haul-out and marine service facilities, facilitating cleanup at Krum Bay through a $2 million CZM Marine Debris Removal Grant administered through the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, increasing permanent and day moorings, providing funding for existing marine apprenticeship programs, and increasing participation by Virgin Islands students in charter, marine service and shipbuilding jobs.

Bryan also announced that Department of Planning and Natural Resources vessel registration for 2020-2021 would be available online and that the department was mapping registered vessel moorings in the territory on Google Earth.

The Virgin Islands Port Authority also began installing new mooring cleats along the St. Thomas waterfront on Dec. 31, 2019. Government House said the cleats would allow berthing by yachts up to 23 metric tons. Installation was expected to be completed within two weeks, with additional installations planned for the Crown Bay excursion dock, Red Hook and Cruz Bay, St. John.

Government House said the task force planned to meet again in February 2020.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-convenes-first-meeting-of-marine-task-force/