SANTO DOMINGO - Grupo ITM, the concessionaire for the construction of the Cabo Rojo port in Pedernales, announced this Monday a new design for the project that includes a reduction in breakwaters to move the structure further away from the coral reef that inhabits it, and whose proposal increases investment costs by 20%.
The redesign will be presented tomorrow, Tuesday, to the Ministry of the Environment and, according to company executives, consists of a 670-meter breakwater in the southern part of the cape, instead of the two breakwaters included in the previous design.
The current project will have the capacity to dock four vessels simultaneously, bringing more than one million tourists a year with an average expenditure of between $80 and $100 per passenger.
The Mexican ITM Group, with the support of the Pro-Pedernales Trust, presented the design to the press, explaining that the investment cost will increase due to the environmental impact studies and the dialogue and evaluation process of the project.
Mariana Perrillat, vice president of the group, explained that the investment amount will be approximately 100 million dollars and that the construction of the port with a single pier will fulfill the initial functions of its announcement, which include the arrival of oasis-type vessels.
"The oasis-type vessels are the largest, capable of transporting approximately 8,000 people; 6,000 passengers and 2,000 crew members. They will be able to arrive at the port thanks to their construction and the characteristics of the area, which will allow for a safe entry," he stated.
The executive added that the updated plan for the cruise port, located away from the coral reef, is designed to prioritize its care and conservation with an innovative construction method that minimizes the number of underwater structures and reduces the dredging area by 90%.
Perrillat estimates that the cruise terminal would be ready by mid-December 2023, if the Environment Ministry grants them the corresponding permits.
Marine species will be relocated
After exhausting a process of dialogue and participatory consultation with various sectors of civil society, state authorities and environmental specialists, the company is also considering relocating marine species that have developed in structures and debris located under the sea, where the ships will enter.
Marine biologist and company technical expert Alonso Reyes reported that the site where this new position is planned is mostly composed of sand, seagrass and slopes that lead to the submarine canyon located in the center of the bay and that will be used for the transit of ships.
To mitigate the impact of the cruise terminal in the area, which will soon be submitted to the Ministry of Environment for authorization, the company is considering relocating seagrass, small coral colonies, sponges, starfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and snails as part of the compensation and mitigation that the Ministry of Environment anticipates for this type of construction.
The process will be carried out with specialized technical monitoring to verify the proper development of that aquatic ecosystem.
The company that operates the port announced that they have invited representatives from environmental and environmental organizations to an underwater survey to observe the areas planned for the construction of the cruise terminal.
Additionally, it was announced that a meeting will be held today with the community of Pedernales, where representatives from the Cabo Rojo port will present a new design . This design anticipates generating 1,500 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, while the operational phase is expected to create between 1,500 and 2,160 indirect jobs, boosting the economy of the border provinces.
The business owners explained that, in addition, a training and skills development program will be implemented to strengthen the workforce in those localities that will be part of the development of the eco-friendly tourism offer and the strengthening of skills.
