(JIS) — The technical studies for the dredging of the Kingston Harbour have been completed, according to chairman of the Logistics and Investment Task Force in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr Eric Deans.

The studies, which were completed in December, will form part of activities to determine, among other things, how much dredging of the area will be required.

“They are now…doing the data analysis to see exactly how much dredging and what type of material is there…,” Dr Deans said at a Think Tank held at the Jamaica Information Service headquarters in Kingston on Thursday.

He informed that the bidders for the project have already been pre-qualified, and that Cabinet is in the process of reviewing the pre-qualification documents. He said that once that review process is completed, then the contract should be awarded for work to get under way.

“The dredging process takes only six months so if we award the contract in March, it will be finished before the end of the year,” he pointed out.

The dredging of the Kingston Harbour and expansion of the port facilities form part of a package of investment projects aimed at developing the country’s shipping and logistics hub industry.

Other projects include establishing a dry dock facility at Jackson Bay, Clarendon, and a bunkering facility at Cow Bay in Yallahs, St Thomas; construction of a cargo and maintenance, repair and operations facility at Vernamfield, Clarendon; and the development of the Caymanas Economic Zone.

The development of the hub will position Jamaica as a major logistics point that will be able to benefit from increased trade activities through the Caribbean as a result of the expansion of the Panama Canal.

When achieved, it will position Jamaica to become the fourth node in the global logistics chain.