Environmental Impacts of an Expanding Caribbean Port: Grand Cayman, British West Indies

The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands is planning to proceed with the replacement and expansion of the existing storm-damaged dock in George Town, Grand Cayman. Channels leading to the new dock will be dredged, and the dredged material will be used as fill for the dock and to construct additional land area for cargo storage. As a part of the permitting process, the Cayman Island Department of the Environment (DOE) has requested that several coastal and environmental aspects of this work be analyzed and presented in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The report, with subsequent addenda, included the results of hydrographic surveys, biological surveys, wave refraction analyses, sediment transport analyses, cultural resource investigations, reviews of applicable dredging techniques, and alternative design studies. The findings indicate that the project would have minimal environmental impacts. The DOE and Caymanian Government are presently reviewing the results of the EIR for project approval.