BEST Comments On Shipping Channel Study
The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] said they are “cautiously pleased to hear of the proposed Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] exercise being conducted in advance of shipping channel alterations.”
BEST noted the three stated options, and said that a fourth and legitimate option should be “none of the above”, saying that they are not at this time favouring any of the options proposed so far.
“In the same way that we have, until recently at least, prohibited the importation of oversized vehicles for our roads, we need to be prepared to view some oversized cruise ships as being too big for Bermuda. Sometimes the penalties outweigh all the claimed benefits, and we need to know that,” said BEST.
Bermuda Environmental Consulting Ltd [BECLtd] has been engaged by the Government of Bermuda to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] of three possible options for the modification of Bermuda’s shipping channels.
The full statement from BEST is below:
The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] is cautiously pleased to hear of the proposed Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] exercise being conducted in advance of shipping channel alterations.
Firstly, we are encouraged that an EIA is leading the list of preparations, in advance of a decision. BEST has long upheld the requirement of the UK/Bda Environment Charter that an EIA/EIS be conducted on major projects and/or projects likely to have major environmental impact.
This project is major and cannot avoid a major intrusion into the marine environment, so an EIA/EIS should be considered an essential and mandatory exercise. We commend the government for making an EIA the pre-eminent step in its decision-making process for the shipping channels
Secondly, we have a high degree of confidence in the appointment of Bermuda Environmental Consultants to conduct the EIA. BEC have impressed us with their conscientious approach to environmental assessments.
In our experience, their work has been thorough, judicious and most importantly reliable. This does not mean that we will automatically be in full acceptance of their conclusions. However, their lead-off moves of seeking public input and meeting with stakeholders are encouraging.
Finally, we maintain a degree of caution with the precondition that the exercise should be limited to the three stated options, which are:
- 1. dredging and widening of the North Channel with some removal of coal reefs
- 2. extensive sand dredging to the South Channel
- 3. realignments and improvements to the South Channel by extensive sand dredging.
[note: all three options would involve dredging within 'The Narrows' off St. Georges].
We must be careful of prejudicing the outcome of an assessment by imposing pre-ordained selections. We note that a fourth and legitimate option should be “4. none of the above”. BEST is not at this time favouring any of the options proposed so far. However, a proper EIA should examine all alternatives.
In the same way that we have, until recently at least, prohibited the importation of oversized vehicles for our roads, we need to be prepared to view some oversized cruise ships as being too big for Bermuda. Sometimes the penalties outweigh all the claimed benefits, and we need to know that.
Retaining the status quo is a legitimate option that indeed “mirrors best practice”, and should not be excluded from examination.
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*** damn these ppl are against everything
You are exactly right, they are against everything! Can someone please inform me what knowledge or expertise this group BEST has?
I agree , BEST please share …
they like to hug trees, and know everything about nothing.
Lets start with YOUR knowledge of the situation at hand so that we all can oppose BEST with what they bring forth…
Read our statement. We’re not against,we’re FOR the EIA.
An MSc. degree and forty-plus years of experience.
stuart tells us what it is that you realy do
dig it straight, dig it long, dig it wide,dig it deep. GET ON WITH IT. Don’t see much of anything getting smaller these days. The little environmentalist will always b****, moan, and complain about something
oh w0w…i’m finding it quite a task to decipher whether you people excel more in, arrogance or ignorance, Obviously you are not an Environmentalist…you have absolutely no interest in the Environment, safely to say you haven’t researched or informed yourself on the subject at hand…YEAH BIE!!…go ahead! cut her open deep n wide!…smfh.
no i am not, have lived with the consequences and added cost for many more years than I care to think about. Have you heard they are adding a new set of locks in the Panama canal because ships are bigger. What does that do to the environment? What about CO2 emissions? and on and on. no further comment. smfh
y cant de boats juz moor outside de passage den ve kin shuddle dem into St. Georges Harbor wit replicas of the Delivery or SeaVenture wit a fully costumed crew of that era…thats what tourists want, not some colossal steel monstrosity parked outside of WhiteHorse…Bermuda has NO ADVENTURE…and thats what they seek.
They are Environmental Extremists. Extreme in their thinking – not an ounce of balanced thinking in this group.
They’re ‘environmental extremists’ … because they like the sound of having an Environmental Impact Study?
Riiiight.
We should listen to what BEST has to say. We have been dealing with these issues for a few hundred years already, and blasting our island away for bigger and deeper ships does have consequences. Our transportation system won’t be able to handle an extra ten thousand people on both ends of the island.
Is it environmental studies were into or the Economy — messing with the Bread and Butter may not be
a good idea.
Whatever damage the Cruise Ships have done is done – were years to late. – and I say yes to widening and dredging the
Town Cut Channel also.
It’s either $$$$$$$$ to survive or 00000000 – your choice Bermudians.