More Propane Storage Tanks Headed To WAPA’s St. Thomas Facility

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) has announced the arrival of two more of the 10 propane storage tanks to service the St. Thomas-St. John district at Crown Bay, St. Thomas from St. Croix’s Container Port.

According to WAPA Executive Director Hugo V. Hodge, Jr., the company coordinating the movement of the tanks on WAPA’s behalf will begin the transport of one of the tanks at 6 a.m. on Friday.

“We are mindful that two cruise ships are scheduled to call at the Monsanto Terminal on Friday, bringing thousands of passengers to the area,” Hodge said. “We have scheduled this early-morning movement operation and we intend to be past the Crown Bay marine terminal by 6:30 a.m., so as not to interfere with the cruise ship arrival and passenger debarkation process.”

Once the first tank is in place, Hodge said a determination will be made as to whether to transport the second tank late on Friday, after the ship’s departure, or whether to wait until early Saturday morning.

Hodge also urged residents traversing the Sub Base area while the tanks are being positioned to pay close attention to the directions of the posted flagmen and law enforcement officers that will be directing traffic flow during this operation.

The empty storage tanks have been temporarily stored at the Container Port on St. Croix since their arrival in July 2014. In October, the first eight storage tanks were transported from the St. Croix Container Port to WAPA’s Estate Richmond facility.

Although employees at the propane conversion project site on St. Croix have told VI Consortium of safety issues at the work site, with some employees being made to use “homemade” tools, WAPA says all of the tanks will be installed with 100-percent redundant safety mechanisms and will be encased in earthen and concrete “mounds,” storing propane on-site at the power plants on St. Croix and St. Thomas.