The Virgin Islands Port Authority said Monday that it has completed the construction of a temporary checkpoint area inside the Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook, St. Thomas. The new checkpoint will be opened after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) completes the installation of its equipment. It will be used by CBP agents to clear ferries and passengers arriving from foreign ports, the authority said.
The temporary facility will be a time-saving convenience for travelers and ferry operators that have been traveling to downtown Charlotte Amalie to clear Customs since the CBP facility on St. John was destroyed during the hurricanes last September. It will be used to clear foreign arrival ferries until the replacement building has been constructed on St. John. The new CBP building on St. John is expected by the end of the year.
CBP is providing services for pleasure craft and charter boats only arriving from foreign destinations in Cruz Bay. Customs agents are operating in a temporary trailer at the Victor W. Sewer Marine Facility (commonly known as “The Creek”) daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call CBP at 340-774-6755.