SLASPA
REDEVELOPING ST. LUCIA’S PORTS
SLASPA
WE LEARN HOW ST. LUCIA AIR & SEAPORTS AUTHORITY IS REACHING NEW MILESTONES.
REDEVELOPING ST. LUCIA’S PORTS PROJECT MANAGED BY: GARY SMITH
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SLASPA
The St. Lucia Air and Seaports Authority, or SLASPA, has always aspired to be a modern gateway connecting people, partners and the world. Its mission, since its foundation nearly 40 years ago, has been to facilitate trade and travel through value creation in a safe, secure and customer-centric environment for sustained social and economic development. As an organisation that manages both the air and sea travel from St. Lucia, the authority has opportunities for unique synergies.
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“W
e’re unique in that not many air and seaports are managed under one Authority,” explained Daren Cenac, the Acting General Manager for SLASPA when he talked to us last year. “In different parts of the world, the airports and seaports authorities are managed separately, either privately or government-owned. SLASPA’s uniqueness lies in
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being able to have efficiencies in its management structures and operations by merging those two organisations under one umbrella.” Indeed, the Authority has a wide range of facilities managed under its authority, including George FL Charles Airport, Vigie Lighthouse, Castries Seaport, Vieux Fort Seaport, Hewanorra International Airport, La Place Carenage, Moule a Chic Lighthouse, Rodney Bay Marina, and Marigot Bay. The Authority was established by an Act of Parliament, No. 10 of 1983 that brought together the Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Communications & Works and the Port Authority. The result was an organisation responsible for managing the main ports of entry to the island while providing a high level of quality service. That has continued to today, with the organisation managed by a team of professionals headed by a General Manager,
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SLASPA
reporting to a Council, made up of ten Government appointees. Every year SLASPA handles in excess of 700,000 tons of sea and air cargo while facilitating over 840,000 airline travellers, an average of 600,000 cruise passengers, roughly 60,000 ferry passengers, more than 54,000 yacht passengers, and over 34,000 aircraft movements as well as berthing over 1,000 vessels.
Daren Cenac, GM (Acting), SLASPA.
EXCITING REDEVELOPMENTS
With their responsibility for all of St. Lucia’s air and seaports, SLASPA refuses to sit on their laurels, as evidenced by the ambitious Hewanorra International Airport Redevelopment Project. The redevelopment project is estimated at US 175 million dollars. The work is in accordance with a 30year lifespan masterplan that aims to transform Saint Lucia’s economy, revolutionising its position in the aviation industry regionally and internationally. The HIA Redevelopment Project includes a number of ambitious improvements and expansions, including a new parking apron, a 100-foot air traffic control tower, five new passenger loading bridges connected to a passenger terminal covering over 337,000 square feet, a parking lot, and road traffic management systems.
“WE’RE UNIQUE IN THAT NOT MANY AIR AND SEAPORTS ARE MANAGED UNDER ONE AUTHORITY.” BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
This airport redevelopment project is the fruit of over a decade of work by SLASPA and the Government of Saint Lucia to meet the ever-changing demands, standards, and protocols of the aviation industry. SLASPA’s Management, Port Council, and the project team have spent the first half of this year finalising critical conditions for the commencement of the project following 2019’s groundbreaking ceremony. Redevelopment of this size needs due diligence and meticulous project planning if it is going to be delivered in a successful and timely manner. This is especially true since SLASPA, as a statutory entity, must operate in line with stringent governing policies With the contractual terms completed, alongside the necessary approvals for the masterplan from local and international authorities, SLASPA began to move ahead with the project this summer.
The first step in the execution of the redevelopment was the site hoarding of approximately 55 acres and the relocation of just over 20 existing airport services. This was the first part of a four-phased approach that took place over four months. At the same time, SLASPA launched the foundation aspect of the project, which involved the driving of more than 3,000 piles. The HIA Redevelopment Project’s construction work is being carried out by the Overseas Engineering and Construction Company (OECC) based in Taiwan. They are overseen by Miami-based project management and engineering company, CBRE | Heery. Both businesses boast extensive experience in construction and engineering for major infrastructural projects across North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This redevelopment is going to play a vital role is St. Lucia’s future and economy, as SLASPA
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SLASPA
has continued to do so for 37 years. Through its hardworking, qualified and committed staff SLASPA has made sterling contributions to St. Lucia’s national development in the areas of trade facilitation, commerce, and tourism. It’s a legacy the HIA Redevelopment Project will continue through its longterm impact on a range of economic sectors, while the
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aviation industry continues to evolve towards new & dynamic opportunities.
A GREENER GATEWAY
The HIA Redevelopment Project will also play a role in SLASPA’s efforts to address environmental sustainability. Last year, for the first time in the Authority’s history, it employed a manager for Health, Safety, and the Environment.
SLASPA has had its staff at supervisory levels attend a range of workshops on climate change. “Through our HSC Manager, we also have links with the Minister of Health in terms of Public Health,” Cenac has said. “Regarding renewable energy, we have been working with the Sustainable Development Department of the Ministry on some RE initiatives.”
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SLASPA
A few years ago SLASPA implemented renewable energy on its security lights system at the Castries Seaport and the authority is in the process of transferring that technology to its airports, including the existing car park at Hewanorra International Airport. “We do have an energy conservation program that was launched many years ago. So, we have building management systems, optimal use of air conditioning systems, continual monitoring of our electricity bills to ensure we optimally use the
electricity at our facilities,” Cenac explained. “And even in the design – when we replace major plans, we ensure the equipment we choose is very energy efficient. Our team are members of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers), who use the latest technologies to design and procure equipment, and to be certain we use it efficiently.” The redevelopment of Hewanorra International Airport is an ambitious project, but for SLASPA, it is only the beginning.
“REGARDING RENEWABLE ENERGY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY ON SOME RE INITIATIVES.”
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SLASPA
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