Update On Maimon Cruise Ship Port

[Danilsa]

Llegan barcazas para dragar Bah?a Maim?n

PUERTO PLATA.- A las 9:40 minutos de la ma?ana de hoy se asomaron en el horizonte de la costa de esta ciudad, las embarcaciones que remolcan a su vez dos barcazas-dragas que iniciar?n en el curso de la presente semana, los trabajos de construcci?n de la terminal de cruceros tur?sticos en la bah?a de Maim?n.



Seg?n datos ofrecidos en exclusiva a Puerto Plata Digital, estas son las dos primeras barcazas, de un total de cinco que llegar?n a Maim?n para dar inicio a los trabajos de inicio de la referida terminal, que ser? construida a un costo millonario por la empresa crucerista Carnival Corporation, mientras que este martes llegar?n dos m?s y la ultima llegar? el pr?ximo jueves 18 del presente mes de julio.

En tanto que el viceministro de turismo; licenciado Cesar Jos? de los Santos dijo que ?con la llegada de las dragas-barcazas, este es un d?a muy especial para Puerto Plata, ya que a pesar de que se di? el primer picazo para la construcci?n de la terminal ?Amber Cove? en la bah?a de Maim?n, de esta es una obra muy importante para el desarrollo de toda la regi?n?.

El funcionario gubernamental, explic? que ?este dragado a realizarse en la bah?a de Maim?n, permitir? darle al fondo marino de all? el suficiente calado (profundidad), para que no confronten problemas los trasatl?ntico tur?sticos de la magnitud que se espera que lleguen a esta jurisdicci?n a finales del a?o pr?ximo como se tiene previsto, ya que los cruceros que se recibir?n ahora, no son los mismos barcos que se recibieron en el muelle de Puerto Plata a finales del los 70 e inicio de los 80?.

Cesar Jos? de los Santos, indico que ?el turismo de crucero que estar? de regreso a Puerto Plata, ser? con buques modernos, con capacidad para 4 y 5 mil pasajeros cada uno, adem?s de 2 mil tripulantes, con un tama?o de mil 600 pies de eslora, equivalente a unos 300 metros de largo, lo que hace que se convierte en realidad ese gran sue?o anhelado por la provincia de Puerto Plata?.

Alegr?a en Maim?n
El presidente del Consejo de Vocales de la Junta Distrital de Maim?n; Ram?n Bonilla, dijo que en esa localidad sus residentes se siente satisfechos ya que todas las expectativas se est?n cumpliendo al pie de la letra como se hab?a establecido y all? reina una gran alegr?a por la llegada de estas barcazas que traen las dragas que trabajaran en la construcci?n de la terminal tur?stica.

Asimismo, los vendedores de artesan?as; Carlos D?az y F?lix Salvador Silverio, expresaron que la llegada de esos buques dragas, arroja una luz al final de t?nel para que el turismo se levante en Puerto Plata, a la misma vez que agradecieron a la compa??a Carnival Corporation por esta obra, lo que a su juicio le dar? un estimulo a la econom?a de la zona donde el accionar tur?stico se encuentra completamente deprimido.
Inversi?n
De igual manera, se recuerda que el representante de la firma Baez y Rannik (B&R); Jeffrey Rannik, que es la contraparte dominicana de la Carnival Corporation; manifest? el gran inter?s de que se trabaje duro en la construcci?n de esa terminal de cruceros en la bah?a de Maim?n ya que el objetivo principal es que dicha obra sea culminada en el menor tiempo posible para darle apertura a finales del 2014 y as? poder incluir a Puerto Plata en la ruta de los cruceros que visitan las islas del Caribe.

Rannik explic? que los estudios de factibilidad y la investigaci?n de suelo que se hicieron en la bah?a de Maim?n provoc? un incremento de unos 20 millones de d?lares en el presupuesto original por lo que ahora, la terminal de cruceros se construir? en base a una inversi?n de 85 millones de d?lares.

 

[Jumbo]

Up to 85 million. Times 3 so i guesstimate 255 to 275 million upon completion.

 

[Rattus_Rattus]

I Agree Jumbo.

 

[Conchman]

Up to 85 million. Times 3 so i guesstimate 255 to 275 million upon completion.

The dredging company has to dredge a certain amount of cubic meters at a fixed cost. Any over-runs on dredging costs will be borne by the dredging company and not effect the cruise line or port company. Carnival has experience building ports in many different countries, I doubt that any cost over runs would affect them, since they only deal with respectable construction companies that have bidded contracts at fixed prices.

 

[the gorgon]

The dredging company has to dredge a certain amount of cubic meters at a fixed cost. Any over-runs on dredging costs will be borne by the dredging company and not effect the cruise line or port company. Carnival has experience building ports in many different countries, I doubt that any cost over runs would affect them, since they only deal with respectable construction companies that have bidded contracts at fixed prices.

true words. Carnival is putting up the money. if it was the DR government, it would be 85 million for the work, and 170 million for the politicians.

 

[ohmmmm]

true words. Carnival is putting up the money. if it was the DR government, it would be 85 million for the work, and 170 million for the politicians.

Yes, 85 million for the labor, 170 million for the politicians, plus materials which is another 100 million, gas which is an additional 20 million, disposal which is another 10 million, the environmental inspection post dredging which is another 70 million, $20 million for security, a lawsuit from a fired drunken security guard for seven years of back wages and a lawsuit from the contractor who claims the company had a small work change which invalidated the contract and now owes an additional 100 million pesos. Gringos are for money...

 

[the gorgon]

Yes, 85 million for the labor, 170 million for the politicians, plus materials which is another 100 million, gas which is an additional 20 million, disposal which is another 10 million, the environmental inspection post dredging which is another 70 million, $20 million for security, a lawsuit from a fired drunken security guard for seven years of back wages and a lawsuit from the contractor who claims the company had a small work change which invalidated the contract and now owes an additional 100 million pesos. Gringos are for money...

and we still have not factored in Leonel's cut....

 

[ohmmmm]

and we still have not factored in Leonel's cut....

hahaha

 

[Conchman]

some more barges arrived.

 

[HarpB]

Hi
Just recently been back to Sosua and yes still employed by one of the big cruise lines. Interesting read on the money spent. Piers are pretty expensive along with the acquisition of land, dredging, moving landfills and simple infrastructure improvements.Most cruise companies develop relationships with governments to ensure long term availability of ports that can decrease the Costs or let a company predict the cost in the future like any other business. Overruns are normal in any project.

I will be interested along with the gorgon if this port changes lives or hurts the community. I as always believe the rich will get Richer but some others will have an opportunity especially on the crew side. I cafe, phones, food, booze, etc.

The money most talk about $100 a day per person is not reality. Crew will spend 50-100 but unless the areas for shopping are well improved they will wait for Cozumel, St Maarten or the home port in America. Same with the guests stores at the pier or a few souvenirs.

We will see

Take care!

 

[the gorgon]

Hi
Just recently been back to Sosua and yes still employed by one of the big cruise lines. Interesting read on the money spent. Piers are pretty expensive along with the acquisition of land, dredging, moving landfills and simple infrastructure improvements.Most cruise companies develop relationships with governments to ensure long term availability of ports that can decrease the Costs or let a company predict the cost in the future like any other business. Overruns are normal in any project.

I will be interested along with the gorgon if this port changes lives or hurts the community. I as always believe the rich will get Richer but some others will have an opportunity especially on the crew side. I cafe, phones, food, booze, etc.

The money most talk about $100 a day per person is not reality. Crew will spend 50-100 but unless the areas for shopping are well improved they will wait for Cozumel, St Maarten or the home port in America. Same with the guests stores at the pier or a few souvenirs.

We will see

Take care!

thanks, Harp, for making the most important observation of all. this 100 dollar spend is a mythical figure, and is further complicated by the fact that there can be other destinations along the route which might have better developed shopping facilities, and that is where the spend will take place. any chart showing cruise ship expenditures will show that the spend is different depending on island or port. i have seen low figures of 67 dollars. also, there is no such reality as an even spend all round, at any destination. the lion's share always ends up in the hands of a very limited few providers.

 

[ctrob]

Granted, a single cruise ship port is not going to turn the DR into a Dubai, and the few ancillary jobs are not going to make every Dominican a millionaire. But it's still a good thing.

A cruise ship port will bring more attention on the DR from tourists/travelers looking for a place to visit.

What they do with that newfound attention, that's another story.

 

[the gorgon]

Granted, a single cruise ship port is not going to turn the DR into a Dubai, and the few ancillary jobs are not going to make every Dominican a millionaire. But it's still a good thing.

A cruise ship port will bring more attention on the DR from tourists/travelers looking for a place to visit.

What they do with that newfound attention, that's another story.

here is a good read for you, ctrob

http://ermes.u-paris2.fr/doctrav/0811.pdf

 

[pelaut]

HarbB: "Overruns are normal in any project. "

Nonsense. Only when it's government, or possibly rich playboys who inherited theirs.
I either worked on or managed myself extremely large projects internationally for 23 years. All that I managed came in under budget and within time.

The attitude that cost or time overruns are "normal" is why the sheepish people remain enslaved to the mafiosi in their governments.

 

[windeguy]

Over runs are normal when people do not know what they are doing in the first place.

I do appreciate the answer that $100 US daily local spending by cruise ship passengers is a myth. When some friends visited on a cruise boat in Samana not long ago, they were in for the day and between the four of us we spent a total of about $60 for lunch while they were on shore. That would be $30 for each for two people. Most other tourists were leaving empty handed as well after perhaps having a snack on shore.

 

[Conchman]

Over runs are normal when people do not know what they are doing in the first place.

I do appreciate the answer that $100 US daily local spending by cruise ship passengers is a myth. When some friends visited on a cruise boat in Samana not long ago, they were in for the day and between the four of us we spent a total of about $60 for lunch while they were on shore. That would be $30 for each for two people. Most other tourists were leaving empty handed as well after perhaps having a snack on shore.

When Carnival did their presentation on the spending of cruise ship passengers in ports, St. Thomas was on top of the list around $150 per person, and Samana on the bottom at around $47. Puerto Plata does have a lot of tours to offer, I don't think $100 is too far off the mark. What may bring down the spending is the fact that the port is not located inside a city or town itself, but some of that loss will be offset by the stores/duty free shops, etc that will be built at the port.

A huge economic factor will be the jobs provided, from shore services, taxis, tour operators, bus drivers, restaurants, excursion providers will all have to hire more staff to accommodate the business on cruise ship days.

In the first year they expect about 250,000 passengers, this is an average 2,500 pax ship twice per week. So it will be slow at first but in the 2nd year it could be as high as 400,000 pax, as it takes time to re-route ship schedules. After 3 years you can expect some days with two ships in the port.