The docks at Heritage Wharf aren’t strong enough to accommodate the new generation of cruise ships, Government insists.“It is clear from the structural analysis undertaken to date that the dock is not strong enough for the present ships and so it follows is not strong enough for the larger ships in the design load conditions specified for the improvement,” a Public Works spokesman told The Royal Gazette.“These loads have been derived from internationally accepted standards and discussions with the cruise lines.”Modifications to the wharf are to be completed ahead of the May start of cruise ship season, when the Norwegian Breakaway makes its arrival at Dockyard.The price tag for the latest work at the West End facility should be released this week, the spokesman added.“In addition we would like to be clear on the procurement and pricing of this project,” he said.“This project is being undertaken on an open-book basis — there are no hidden costs. This approach ensures fairness and quality and means that we can work together to achieve this. The overhead and profit of general contractor was a part of the bid analysis and all contractor payments will be actual costs of labour, plant and materials with documented back up which is supported by industry standard price agreements.”According to contractor Dennis Correia, whose company built the original structure at Dockyard, a host of countries through the Caribbean and Central America are faced with the dilemma of larger-than-expected cruise ships calling on their shores.Mr Correia listed the Dominican Republic, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, St Lucia, Barbados and Nicaragua as countries where he has helped with upgrades “on behalf of a major cruise line and or individual developers”.Part of the modification ongoing at Heritage Wharf is the dismantling of the facility’s thruster wall, badly damaged during Hurricane Igor in 2010.According to the Government spokesman, its removal — delayed by work undertaken during the cruise ship season — is “almost complete”.He added that the Office of Project Management and Procurement, along with the Ministry of Finance, have given their support for the latest work at Dockyard.“Financial Instructions require that we go to at least three bidders,” the spokesman said. “Unfortunately there are only two marine contractors on the Island [of] a capacity that could be considered helpful in taking on a project of this size. For this reason, we approached six Bermudian general contractors of known experience with high quality project management skills and requested that they bid for the works. These general contractors all replied that they would be interested and were issued with RFP documents.”Government sought maximum Bermudian input in the construction process, he said.“These general contractors could have selected one, or both of the two marine contractors to work on the project,” he added. “There was no preferential treatment and the selection process had no political or other bias. It was quality- and price-driven as a judgment of the team put together.”The Royal Gazette would like to clarify that last week’s article on the Heritage Wharf works made reference to “repairs” being undertaken at the facility. The correct wording for the project should have been “modification”.