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Airline Incentive Targets STX

A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PORT AUTHORITY Volume 10 Issue 2 www.viport.com 2014 Spring/Summer Edition

Roberto Cintron of St. Croix Confirmed to VIPA Board

In This IssueIn This IssueIn This Issue

From the Board Room……………………….2

Employee of the Year 2014....………………3

CEKA Renovations………………….…….....4

Dredging Projects ………………….....….....5

Personnel News & Updates ..…….. .……...6

Seatrade Cruise Convention 2014 …...…...7

Enighed Pond Ops Plan Amended…….....8

Roberto C. Cintron was confirmed by the

Virgin Islands Legislature to the Virgin

Islands Port Authority Governing Board of

Directors on April 28. He fills a vacancy left

by Gordon Finch who retired from the VIPA

Board in February.

Cintron, a native of St. Croix, is the

president of his family’s land development

business, Jay-Ro-Mar Inc. and a co-owner of

New Wave Development. He has performed

private engineering consulting, land

development and surveying while also serving on the Board of Land

Use Appeals. He worked in Orlando for five years as an engineering

consultant. Upon receiving his engineering license in 2005 he

returned to St. Croix and began working at the VI Department of

Public Works, becoming assistant commissioner in 2006. Cintron

graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in

civil engineering in 2000.

Roberto C. Cintron

VIPA Board Member

Benedict Field was the name of the

first airport on St. Croix. Learn more

about this historic military base as we

continue the celebration of the Virgin

Islands Port Authority’s 45th Anniversary

by documenting the fascinating history of

the ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Benedict Field (Back Page)

The Virgin Islands Port Authority has implemented a new

incentive to attract new air service to St. Croix. Airlines that offer

new service or existing airlines that increase service to St. Croix will

receive a waiver of landing fees and a 50 percent reduction in

passenger fees for one year. Airlines that increase or add service

from Nov. 2014 through Nov. 2016 are eligible for the one-year

waiver. VIPA is working with the VI Department of Tourism to

market this incentive to prospective airlines with an interest in adding

St. Croix to their routes. The incentive also applies to airlines that

offer non-peak-hour-service to the Cyril E. King Airport on

St. Thomas. VIPA hopes to attract air service to St. Thomas before

noon and after 5 pm.

Page 2 VIPA Portfolio—Spring/Summer 2014

VIPA Transfers Land in Cruz Bay to DPNR

The Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Governing Board approved the

transfer of Parcel 302 Cruz Bay to the Department of Planning and

Natural Resources for the construction of a fish market. The parcel of

land is located along the channel that leads to the Theovald Moorehead

Dock and Marine Terminal at Enighed Pond, St. John. The Board

directed VIPA’s engineering staff to be involved in the construction of the

new fisherman’s market to ensure that any docks built in that area do not

obstruct the entrance and exit out of the channel.

The VIPA Portfolio is published by: The Virgin Islands Port Authority P.O. Box 301707 St. Thomas, VI 00803-1707 Tel: (340) 774-1629 Fax: (340) 774-0025 Web site: www.viport.com E-mail: info@viport.com Honorable John P. de Jongh Jr. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Honorable Gregory L. Francis Lt. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Mr. Robert O’Connor Jr. Chairperson of the Board Private Sector Member, St. John The Honorable Darryl Smalls, P.E. Vice Chairperson of the Board Commissioner of Public Works The Honorable Albert Bryan Jr. Secretary of the Board Chairman, Economic Development Authority Board and Commissioner of Labor Mr. Allison Petrus Private Sector Member, St. Thomas The Honorable Beverly Nicholson-Doty Commissioner of Tourism The Honorable Vincent Frazer, Esq. Attorney General Dr. Yvonne E. L. Thraen Private Sector Member, St. Thomas Mr. Roberto C. Cintron Private Sector Member, St. Croix Mr. Manuel Gutierrez Private Sector Member, St. Croix Mr. Carlton Dowe Executive Director Mr. David W. Mapp Assistant Executive Director Monifa A. Marrero Editor & Layout Assistant Editors Damali Rogers; Julice Harley and Gail L. Chinnery Photography Don Hebert, Jose Nazario, Melville Holder, and Monifa Marrero

Established on Feb. 11, 1969, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) is a semi-autonomous agency that owns and manages the two airports and the majority of the public seaports in the United States Virgin Islands. We are also charged with controlling the harbors in the territory. VIPA is a critical arm of the USVI economy, and is committed to maintaining and developing the airports and seaports of the territory to accommodate the current and future demands of its users. The Port Authority is self-supporting and receives no tax revenues from the U.S. Virgin Islands government.

1969—2014

From the Board RoomFrom the Board RoomFrom the Board Room

The Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Governing Board held a special

meeting on May 9 to select an insurance broker and an investment banker

and underwriter for the Authority. AON Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico,

Inc. was selected as the insurance broker for the Port Authority for a fee

of $250,000 for one year. The company has two one-year options to

renew the contract. AON Risk will provide both liability and property

insurance coverage. VIPA previously held two separate insurance

coverage contracts with two different companies. Combining coverage

under one company will save the Authority about $500,000 in brokerage

fees, said VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe.

Jefferies, LLC was selected as the Authority’s investment banker/

underwriter to assist with the upcoming marine bond transaction. VIPA

plans to finance several of its major marine capital projects using bonds.

Jefferies will be paid a fee of $5.50 per $1,000 bond. Dowe said that

there are not many federal grants available for marine projects, so VIPA

is seeking alternative methods to fund critically needed repairs and

developments to its seaports in the territory.

VIPA Selects New Insurance Broker and Investment Banker

AMENDED VIPA MARINE TARIFF EFFECTIVE APRIL 23 Ship Dues $2 per passenger

Inbound Wharfage $3 per passenger

Outbound Wharfage $3 per passenger

Cruise ships and all vessels

traveling between the USVI are

exempt from the increase.

VIPA Portfolio—Spring/Summer 2014 Page 3

FRANCISCO PARRILLA Maintenance Supervisor

St. Croix

We congratulate the Virgin Islands Port Authority’s 2014 Employees of the Year: Francisco Parrilla, a

maintenance supervisor on St. Croix, and Vincent Arthurton, a custodian at the Cyril E. King Airport on

St. Thomas. Parrilla will be honored at the VI Government’s Annual Employee of the Year Ceremony

hosted by the VI Division of Personnel on St. Croix on June 5. Arthurton will be honored at the ceremony

held on St. Thomas on June 6.

VINCENT ARTHURTON CEKA Custodian

St. Thomas

The Virgin Islands Port Authority has leased land to the

Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority to facilitate the

construction of the VIWAPA's VITOL Liquefied Petroleum

Gas Conversion Project. VIWAPA will lease a 42,000

square-foot area at Parcel No. 4 Lindbergh Bay at the foot

of Sarah Hill, adjacent to the Cyril E. King Airport on St.

Thomas. The land will be used as a temporary off-site

storage area for rock spoil for six weeks. After the stone is removed, VIWAPA will use the area for another

six to eight months to store civil, structural, piping, mechanical and electrical equipment for the VIWAPA

VITOL LPG Project. The rock storage area will be set back far enough from the main road to allow the

community to continue to park in that area while they use the airport road to exercise.

Earlier this year, VIPA also leased two Port Authority plots in Subbase to VIWAPA. Parcels 161-E and

16-A were leased to assist VIWAPA with the relocation of its Line Department to prepare for the

construction of the propane power generation plant. "This project is vital to the entire territory as it will help

reduce the utility costs that affect businesses and residents. The Port Authority is willing to assist VIWAPA

in any way possible – including allowing the use of our available resources - to bring this project to fruition,"

VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe said.

VIPA Leases Land to Assist VIWAPA With Construction of

Petroleum Storage Plant

Page 4 VIPA Portfolio—Spring/Summer 2014

Cyril E. King Airport Undergoing Major Renovations

The 25-year-old Cyril E. King Airport Terminal on

St. Thomas is receiving some much needed renovations

and enhancements.

Baggage Claim Upgrade: Renovations to the

baggage claim area began in Dec. 2013. Improvements

include new restrooms, a new restaurant area and

terrazzo tile flooring. A new baggage belt is being

installed and the existing belt is being split into two to

provide three belts to serve arriving passengers. VIPA

is also adding automated signage, new concessions

spaces and a new tourism welcome booth. The $4

million project, being performed by Custom Builders, is

funded via Passenger Facility Charges. Renovations

should be completed by the fall of 2014.

Security Fencing: The entire perimeter security

fencing is being replaced for the first time since the

Cyril E. King Airport was constructed. The existing six-

foot security fence that surrounds the airport will be

removed and replaced with a new eight-foot, black vinyl

-coated chain link fence that will extend around the

entire secured operations area of the King Airport.

Project contractor Island Roads Corporation began the

work on April 21 and should be completed by August.

The taller fence was requested by the Transportation

Security Administration (TSA) to enhance security. The

new fencing will also improve the aesthetics of the

airport and the new vinyl-type material is expected to

last longer and resist rusting. The $1 million fencing

project is funded via an entitlement grant from the

Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA will pay 90

percent of the total cost and VIPA will pay the

remaining 10 percent.

General Aviation Ramp Rehabilitation: VIPA

was issued an Airport Improvement Program Grant in

Sept. 2013 to rehabilitate the deteriorating eastern

general aviation ramp at the King Airport. The apron is

used for private jet parking and was constructed in 1986.

The thickness of the entire ramp is being upgraded from

six to eight inches of plain cement concrete. VIPA hired

Island Roads Corporation to perform the work which

should be completed by October. The FAA awarded

VIPA the multi-year AIP grant to fund the repairs with

$2.5 million issued in fiscal year 2013 and the

remaining $3.3 million appropriated in 2014.

CEKA General Aviation Ramp

CEKA Perimeter Fencing Project

CEKA Baggage Claim Area Renovations

VIPA Portfolio—Spring/Summer 2014 Page 5

Crown Bay Pier Expansion

Dredging Projects Pending US Army Corps Approval

VIPA will dredge the Schooner Bay Channel

to allow smaller cruise ships to berth in

Christiansted on St. Croix.

The Virgin Islands Port Authority has three major dredging projects

before the US Army Corps of Engineers for approval:

Gallows Bay Schooner Channel Dredging — VIPA has applied for

a permit to dredge the Schooner Channel to allow small cruise ships

and luxury vessels to berth in Christiansted, St. Croix.

Crown Bay Gregorie East Dredging — A permit has been

submitted to allow VIPA to dredge the Gregorie East Channel at the

cruise ship pier in Crown Bay. The channel will be dredged to safely

accommodate the oasis-class vessels that berth in Crown Bay,

St. Thomas.

Crown Bay Marina Dredging — VIPA also applied for a permit to

perform maintenance dredging at Crown Bay Marina, St. Thomas.

The cruise ship dock at the Austin “Babe”

Monsanto Marine Terminal on St. Thomas will be

extended in the near future. The VI Port Authority

hired CDR Maguire to provide support services with

the construction project to fill in the notch at the end of

the pier. VIPA plans to used dredged spoils from

pending Gregory East Channel Dredging Project to fill

the space. Filling in the notch will add additional

usable pier space which is needed to accommodate the

larger ships that berth in Crown Bay.

CEKA’s Concessions International Baggage Claim Restaurant

Temporary Closure The Concessions International Baggage Claim Snack Bar

in the Cyril E. King Airport will be temporarily closed for

renovations. The baggage claim location will be closed from

June 8 throughout the duration of the baggage claim renovations,

which is expected to be completed by November. During its

closure, the restaurant will operate a mobile drink stand in the

Baggage Claim area and the Papaya Cove Snack Bar located in

Gate 10 of the terminal. The Hibiscus Restaurant in the

domestic waiting area of the terminal will also remain open.

Page 6 VIPA Portfolio—Spring/Summer 2014

Employee Health Risk Assessment Deadline

Employees of the Virgin Islands Port

Authority are reminded to complete their annual

Health Risk Assessment (HRA) on CIGNA’s

website at www.mycigna.com. Employees who

do not complete the HRA by Sept. 14, 2014

will be subjected to additional biweekly

insurance charges of $20.83 for one year. The

test takes about 30 minutes to complete. Please

contact Human Resources at (340) 714-6676 to

set an appointment time if you need assistance

completing the health assessment test.

All female employees of the Virgin Islands Port Authority were treated to a special Mother’s Day

Luncheon on May 9. VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe along with several other male employees

took a pause from running the busy agency to serve the ladies a delicious home-cooked meal, desserts and

libations. In addition to lunch, all the females received a customized Mother’s Day tea cup and a packet of

hot cocoa. The luncheon on St. Thomas was held at The Mill in the Crown Bay Center mall. On St. Croix,

the luncheon was held in the VIPA Conference Room of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport Terminal.

Congratulations to Dale Gregory, VIPA’s Director of

Engineering, who received an award from the Virgin Islands

National Guard for his continued support of employees who

are members of the VI National Guard and Reserve.

VIPA Portfolio—Spring/Summer 2014 Page 7

SEATRADE 2014

The Virgin Islands Port Authority partnered with the VI Department of Tourism and the West Indian Company, Ltd. to sell the territory as a premier destination to cruise industry leaders and travel agents from across the world. The convention was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Florida from March 16-19.

VIPA’s Senior Engineer Jeff Lawlor Retires

Jeff Lawlor has decided to begin his well-deserved retirement after 26 dedicated years of service to

the Virgin Islands Port Authority as its senior engineer on St. Croix. VIPA Executive Director Carlton

Dowe, former VIPA Board Member Gordon Finch and VIPA employees gathered at the Henry E.

Rohlsen Airport’s Cruise Lounge on April 25 to celebrate this milestone with Jeff. In addition to his

wealth of knowledge as an experienced engineer, Jeff also served as a jack-of-all-trades by assisting the

VIPA IT staff with computer and networking repairs. He will definitely be missed on the job but will

always remain a member of the VIPA family.

Jeff Lawlor with the VIPA Engineering Staff

Jeff Lawlor and VIPA

Executive Director

Carlton Dowe

Jeff Lawlor and former VIPA Executive

Director & Board Member Gordon Finch

BENEDICT FIELD The History of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport

Benedict Field was a World War II United States Army Air Corps field and the first official airfield

established by the US on the island of St. Croix. It was opened in 1941 and used by the military until 1947.

The airfield was located along the southern coast of the island, east of Frederiksted and served as an auxiliary

field for the US Navy base in Puerto Rico. The airport consisted of a landing field, two runways, roads,

storage facilities and a warning station. The US Air Corps also established an area for test bombings. It was

named in honor of a young fighter pilot by the name of Benedict who died in a crash landing on the airstrip.

The airfield was transferred to the US Navy after the war and renamed the Alexander Hamilton Airport in

honor of Hamilton, a founding father of the United States of America who had resided on

St. Croix. An airport terminal was built in the late 1940’s. Part of the former military base became the

University of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix in 1964. The Virgin Islands Port Authority became the owners

of the airport on St. Croix upon the creation of the agency by the VI Legislature in February 1969. The

airport was named in honor of Henry E. Rohlsen in 1996. Rohlsen was born on St. John but resided on

St. Croix and graduated from Christiansted High School. Rohlsen enlisted in 1943 and served as the first

black fighter pilot in the 99th Squadron of the US Air Corps as part of the Tuskegee Airmen. Rohlsen also

served two terms as a senator in the VI Legislature from 1951 to 1954 and as an Administrator for the island

of St. Croix from 1969 to 1973.

VIPA completed the $40 million expansion and renovation of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport Terminal in

2002. The two-story terminal is 181,000 square feet and has 10 gates. The airport runway measures 10,004

feet, which allows the Rohlsen Airport to receive the largest jets and cargo planes, as well as direct flights

from international airports.

Enighed Pond Operation Plan Amended

The operating plan that regulates activity at the Theovald

Eric Moorehead Dock and Terminal at Enighed Pond,

St. John was amended to limit repair activity at the facility.

Effective May 1, vessel owners can perform minor repairs

to their boats at the dock and these repairs must be

completed within 14 days. Work may only be performed

between the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Vessel operators may

contact the marine manager’s office for more information at

info@viport.com or (340) 774-2250.

Platinum Associate Member

Advisory Council Conference The Buccaneer Hotel

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands June 18 - 21, 2014