The Ocho Rios Fishing Village has been named the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE) 2018 Project of the Year.

The award was presented at the JIE’s recent annual awards dinner and gala, where four nominees for the award were recognised for outstanding engineering work.

The winning project involved the redevelopment and redesigning of the fishing village, work which was executed in three phases. Phase One included construction of 18 small shops and restaurants, parking bays, walkways, sewage and electrical upgrades, and renovation of the driveway. Phase two involved the construction of a two-storey building housing two large restaurants, a dining pavilion, and facilities for fisher folk. The third phase saw the reclamation and renourishment of 1,200 m² of beach frontage.

The modern, aesthetically pleasing facility was constructed for the benefit of fisherfolk, locals and tourists alike, the project team said.

In addition to physical and infrastructure upgrades, the project facilitated training of the fisherfolk in business management, personal skills, and customer service from the HEART/Trust NTA and Jamaica Business Development Corporation.

The JIE noted that the project used all raw materials from construction and is energy efficient, making use of a solar PV system supplemented by LED lighting in exterior spaces. Tradesmen and artisans employed on the project were locally procured.

The fishing village project also incorporated the two water sources (Sailor Hole spring and a tributary flowing through the fishing village), by training the river to ensure controlled flow through the property, having the outfall of the Sailor Hole spring as the centre of the Fishing Village.

The project team included the Port Authority of Jamaica, which was the client/coordinator; Harold Morrison and Robert Woodstock, project managers; Peter Jervis & Associates, architects; Civil/Structural Engineer; coastal/environmental engineer, Smith Warner International Ltd; mechanical/electrical engineer, HTG Engineering Consultants; and contractors Surrey Paving and M&M Jamaica.

Another nominee for Project of the Year was the Reynolds Pier Upgrade Phase 1 Marine Works — another Port Authority of Jamaica-managed project, with consultants Schneider Engineering & Consulting Inc, Jentech Consultants Ltd, Camilo Trench and Orion Marine Construction Inc.

Also nominated was Barbican Road Improvement Project, a Government of Jamaica/Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation project. Consultants included the National Works Agency and China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd.

The fourth project nominated for the JIE 2018 Project of the Year award was the Port Antonio Water, Sewerage & Drainage Project of the National Water Commission. Consultants included Kieran Cadogan; Peter Jervis & Associates; Vinci Construction Grands Projets; GLS; IEA (Paul Campos); and NHL Engineering.

The JIE presented a number of other awards at their dinner and gala including the President’s Special Award for Excellence in Engineering to the Caribbean Maritime University, and the JIE Award for Excellence in Engineering to engineer Everard Dixon, managing director of Beckford & Dixon Ltd.

Engineering students were also among those awarded. Ramar Lovelace, Marine Engineering (BEng), copping the award for Most Outstanding Jamaican Engineering Student – Caribbean Maritime University; Sherika Anderson, Civil Engineering (BSc) took Most Outstanding Jamaican Engineering Student – University of the West Indies Mona; and Sean Ellis, Civil Engineering (BEng) was awarded Most Outstanding Jamaican Engineering Student – University of Technology, Faculty of Engineering & Computing.

Engineer Glaister Richards won The President’s Cup, and the JIE Commentary Committee, The Best Committee Award.

Christopher Hamilton, president of the JIE, had high praise for organisations and individuals recognised at the dinner for engineering excellence, and said that the JIE is intensifying its collaborative approach to development in a bid to improve Jamaica’s future.

“The landscape has changed and is changing at an increasingly rapid pace. The effort of nation-building in this new environment will require that all stakeholders work together to use all resources to steer the nation to growth and development,” he said.

“This year, under the theme ‘Engineering A Collaborative Approach to Development’, the JIE Council and members will focus on developing and strengthening partnerships, collaborating with public and private sector interests and preparing the profession for the changes of the future through continued training and development,” Hamilton said.

Pointing to the much-anticipated new building code due to be enacted by January 2019, Hamilton said it was one example of “how collaborative efforts can produce results that will enhance or improve our nation’s future”.

“This will be the first step in ensuring public safety and welfare, minimising damage caused by natural and man-made hazards as well as promoting sustainable development and encouraging economic activity.”