$39 Million North Abaco Port Nears Construction by Chec Americas

Mon, Mar 24th 2014, 10:45 AM

Residents of North Abaco will soon see further development on their island as top contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) gears up to commence construction on the new $39 million port.

An update on the North Abaco Port Project for Coopers Town is expected to come during a town hall meeting on Monday with CHEC Americas Division and the government hosting a session at the Faith Walk Church of God in Coopers Town at 7 pm.

“We invite everyone in Abaco to come out to hear what we have to say about the project,” said Felix Chang, Principal of CHEC Bahamas. “I am looking forward to a very engaging town hall meeting.”

Committed to promoting economic growth and infrastructural development in the region, the company recently rebranded, changing its name from CHEC Latin America to CHEC Americas—a name which reflects its desire to continue offering themselves as a Full Service Provider working collaboratively with public and private sector clients in the Caribbean and the North, South and Central American region. The North Abaco Port Project is slated to be a boon for the island and for the country at large.

“We are committed to constructing a first class facility that will improve the lives of Abaconians,” noted Colvin London, CHEC’s Senior Business Manager for the Caribbean.

This announcement comes fast on the heels of another project procurement in the region—the signing of an agreement for an industrial park and port in La Brea in Trinidad and Tobago valued at US $593 million.

In 2013, CHEC secured nearly US$1 billion worth of new projects in the Americas to add on to those currently being executed in The Panama Colon Container Terminal Phase III project; in San Vincente, Chile; the first leg of the North South Highway in Jamaica; the modernization of Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the flood mitigation works in Grenada.

Also in 2013 the $400 million All Island, Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme and the USD$220 million CSMA container terminal at the port of Manzanillo in Mexico, were completed by CHEC.

“In any country in which CHEC operates, we try to better understand its people and the needs of the country as a whole,” remarked Chang. “We look forward to a fruitful and symbiotic relationship where we can continue to work together with overarching goal of furthering development in the Bahamas.”

In locations where CHEC has offices, the company has engaged in a number of Corporate Social Responsibility activities including the sponsorship of athletic and sports teams, environmental cleanup campaigns, the support of cultural competitions, donations to children and old age homes and disaster relief efforts. CHEC looks forward to engaging in these kinds of activities in the Bahamas as well.

ABOUT:

CHEC is a full service provider in large-scale construction business for more than 30 years. The leading engineering company specializes in the areas of marine engineering, dredging, land reclamation, and in the construction of roads, bridges, airports and railways. As such, the company has received more than 160 awards for a number of projects including the design and construction of two of the three longest sea crossing bridges in the world; the Hangzhou Bay Bridge [36 KM long] and the Shanghai Donghai Bridge [32.5 KM long], both in China. The company was also presented with the prestigious Jamaica Institute of Engineers Project of the Year award in 2013 for the completion of the Westmorland Bridge in Jamaica.

The company is particularly known for its staunch work ethic and commitment in completing projects on time and within budget, as such the company finished the Sino-Myanmar crude oil pipeline project, 35 days ahead of schedule in July 2013 and the UAE Ajman Wharf project was handed over twenty days earlier in November 2013. Other projects completed on time in 2013 include the International Port of Columbo South Container in Sri Lanka, the Saudia Arabia Yanbu Industrial Port No. 69 Berth Wharf and marine works being done at the Lobito Container Terminal Expansion project in Angola.

In 2013 alone, four of China Harbour’s projects were recognized and the company was presented with the National Excellence in Construction Project Management Achievement Award. China Harbour Engineering Company has had an impressive track record having secured over 70 contracts across the globe worth approximately $US7 billion in 2013 alone. Just last week CHEC signed two new ports outside of the region valued at $US430 million. The company is also progressing with its work in Qatar on the foundation of the Doha New Port and breakwater construction project valued at $US880 million.

The company donated US$23,000 to assist with financing the trip for Jamaican athletes to attend the 2012 London Olympic Games and an additional US$23,000 on their victorious return. Jamaica’s Paralympians were given a financial boost towards participating at the IPC Athletics World Championships in France, in 2013 as CHEC provided US$5,500 towards their expenses. CHEC’s support of sports did not stop there as the company stepped in with a US$250,000 sponsorship package in 2012 for Jamaica’s National Premier Football Competition and continued their commitment in 2013 with an additional US$250,000.

In addition to its support for sporting events, the company has also donated washing machines and shower transport chairs to two different homes for the elderly and engaged in beach clean-ups on International Coastal Clean-up Day 2012 and 2013. CHEC also provided the Government of Jamaica with a cheque for US$145,000 to assist the country with its national reconstruction efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

In Guyana this month China Harbour offered cash prizes to children who won for best essay and best drawing in the cultural National Mashramani Day competition, and in Grenada the company sponsors the local cricket competition among other causes.

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