The Bermuda Government has moved to quell concerns that repairs to the Dockyard wharves and their surrounding infrastructure will not be completed by the start of the cruise season.

Both Heritage Wharf and King’s Wharf sustained significant damage during last October’s hurricanes, while parts of the cruise terminals and roads around the wharves were demolished.

That the significant repair work has not been started yet, only seven weeks before the beginning of the cruise season, has prompted concern from some quarters of the Island’s shipping industry.

But a spokesman for the Department of Works and Engineering told The Royal Gazette that construction would start in the “coming weeks”.

The spokesman said: “While the cruise ships’ schedules arrivals in little over seven weeks, it is not necessary to have both wharves occupied at that time,” said the spokesman.

“We are working closely with the Habour Master to schedule the berthing in order to accommodate the necessary repairs which will keep King’s Wharf clear until the end of April.

“The works are scheduled to be completed prior to the arrival of the cruise ships, however this is weather-dependent.

“In the next few weeks, we will be in a position to evaluate how much spare time we have for completion of the works. At present we are confident that we have sufficient time to undertake the necessary repairs so as not to affect cruise ship arrivals.”

The 2015 cruise schedule indicates that the first liner to arrive in Dockyard will be the Riviera, which is due to berth at King’s Wharf on April 4. A further six cruise calls are scheduled in the West End for April.

According to the Bermuda Government, repairs are still required to the breakwater, above and below water, the North Arm pavement, utilities, fendering equipment, and the arrivals and departures buildings. The reattachment of cruise ship fenders to both wharves also needs to take place. “The fenders have been recovered and will be replaced in due course,” the spokesman said.

“It is more cost-effective to have a contractor working on the site for the main repair works undertake this task rather than mobilising for the works separately at additional cost.

“While repairs to the terminal building are not the responsibility of Ministry of Public Works, we are aware of the need for this work to be completed.

“This is subject to an insurance claim and the insurers are assisting Government in ensuring that all works are completed without unnecessary delays and importantly completed before the cruise ship arrival. These buildings are not in use and hurricane repair works must be prioritised accordingly.”

The extensive damage to the North Arm has been caused by wave action and erosion of the breakwater, according to the Bermuda Government.

“To repair this correctly, a detailed investigation and marine engineering solution has been undertaken,” the spokesman added.

“Construction drawings and specifications are with this ministry for approval and works will commence shortly.

“It has been only three months since the damage occurred, the timescale available for repairs is short, but this is no reason not to undertake them correctly and ensure that the repairs will withstand a future storm event.

“It is the responsibility of Government to ensure that works undertaken are both effective and cost-efficient; this is also a requirement of the insurers.

“Inadequately designed and uncertified repairs would potentially invalidate future claims.

“Far from there being no work done, the Government last year procured and completed investigation and inspection works, including bathymetric surveys and dive inspections in accordance with Financial Instructions and to the satisfaction of the insurers.

“To date, this essential information has been used to enable the design of the remedial works which have been translated to construction drawings and specifications.”