Is it a cover up? Top of VG dock being fixed while underside ignored
A couple months later repair work started on the dock, but it appeared only the top of the dock was being fixed.
Virgin Gorda ferry services have been temporarily relocated to the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour Marina on Dock B only, which has led to its own confusion and cries of racism at the treatment of the locals by the manager.
The work is expected to be completed at the end of May 2017, but photos show the bottom of the dock is still in desperate need of repairs and the dock could still collapse despite the top being fixed.
The scope of the project, according to government officials, entails the laying of a wearing slab with steel reinforced concrete on the existing jetty, repairing and replacing bollards, placing new bollards for the cargo ramp and pouring a concrete slab on the entire apron, as well as the installation of lighting on the apron.
Hon Vanterpool's version
Meanwhile, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communications and Works, said a study was conducted by engineers on the dock, which showed that it was intact, but the concrete slab is where the issue lies.
He went on to state that the works are similar to what was done on the cruise pier in Road Town, however, he did not state the cost of the project.
And while our newsroom does not have any engineers on staff, the photos provided leaves a lot to be concerned about the stability of the bottom of the dock.
45 Responses to “Is it a cover up? Top of VG dock being fixed while underside ignored”
I am sure no professional engineer would sign off on this. Mark looking points by doing a quick job. That dock represents ..... trying to cover up all .... dirt but everything will come to light.
They should leave the @#$&* place in shambles. Cant please you all. 20 years ago when govt squandered money on the populace nobody had an issue with money for nothing. Now everything needs to be overhauled and we are upset over temporary inconveniences to get them fixed. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
Moreover, curious about the concrete cover of the rebar to prevent/minimize seawater coming in contact with the steel, causing spalling. Minimum cover over steel, combined with moisture, will accelerate spalling, resulting in a non aesthetically pleasing appearance as a minimum. Moisture infiltration from the surface could also cause steel corrosion and contribute to spalling. Design, construction, maintenance.......etc should facilitate runoff and prevent ponding.
The condition of the beams below the wharf should raise urgent concerns and give engineers and others pause. Does the $2M include repair of the spalling under the wharf? If so should not the work, if any, under the wharf should have been done first? Is the plan to stop the infiltration from surface first? Nevertheless, the spalling under the wharf haunts me. Heaven forbids that no one is harm. But if the spalling and deterioration is not addressed/slowed now, premature failure can occur, posing a risk to public health and safety. This almost borders on gross negligence. If there is a premature failure, who is going to take responsibility, i.e., design consultant engineer, PWD director ( justification for an engineer to be in charge of PWD), government.....etc?
There are several factors but the prime factor is probably oxidation that resulted in spalling which resulted in the degradation of the steel. Oxygen in the infiltrated water combined with the iron ore in steel caused oxidation. When steel oxidizes it expands and results in spalling.
When the dock was constructed first, Government purchase cheaply engineer beams from Trinidad
probably was abandon because of poor quality of concrete and rebars. That's where the blames starts.
Minister of communication and works was misled by his consultants or he is misrepresenting the facts. A copy of that study should be made public or lets hear the consultants side of the story. An inquiry should commissioned and made public.
Anywhere in the world, that dock would be deemed completely unsafe and would be tagged for demolition and replacement. Whatever money is currently being spent isn't even a band-aid, it is a case of putting lipstick on a pig as it fixes exactly nothing. You can dress it up all you like, but it's still a pig and it is only a matter of time until it will collapse.
I'd advise that vehicles be kept off it completely. With any lucky, it will collapse during a storm when nobody is on it and no heavy boats are tied up to it. It would be a good idea not to leave any boats tied to it overnight.