A dock in St. George’s has been condemned, meaning the Empress of the Seas will bypass St. George’s for the first two weeks of the cruise ship season.

Alderman Beau Evans told a meeting in St. George Town Hall that the “metal catwalk and dolphin” on Ordnance Island needed to be fixed before cruise ships could dock there. “It’s a little bit of a small disaster,” he said.

He said the work was originally supposed to be done at the end of the last season but it was then realised that the dolphin needed to be replaced. “We are hoping that it can be done quickly,” he added.

Derrick Binns, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Works and Engineering, told The Royal Gazette: “The Ministry of Works and Engineering is undertaking the works on behalf of the Corporation of St. George’s and the Ministry of Tourism and Transport.

“We have only recently been engaged and are currently expediting the works. Preliminary work has already begun and as indicated all works will be completed two weeks after the beginning of the season.”

Mr. Evans also told the meeting that Government was looking at Murray’s Anchorage - between Tobacco Bay and the oil docks - as a possible cruise ship facility.

“That’s something that’s on the table and to be thought about,” he said. “It could be a political hot potato.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Transport and Tourism said Murray’s Anchorage had long been discussed as a possible cruise port. “However, it is not a consideration at this time,” she added.