Planning Stronger, More Resilient Ports for the US Virgin Islands

We invite you to be a part of the planning process.

The Virgin Islands’ ports are essential to daily life, bringing in food, fuel, goods, and visitors while supporting local jobs and island connections. VIPA CHART is a long-range planning effort to ensure these maritime assets remain safe, reliable, and resilient today and well into the future. Through data, local knowledge, and community input, VIPA is creating clear, asset specific plans that guide investments, strengthen storm readiness, and prepare ports for changing conditions through 2050 and beyond.

What is CHART?

CHART—short for Comprehensive Harbor Advancement and Resilience Transformation—is a multi‑year initiative that helps VIPA:

• Understand how maritime facilities are performing today

• Identify risks from storms, sea level rise, and aging infrastructure

• Plan for future economic, transportation, and community needs

• Develop practical strategies to reduce risk and guide long‑term investment

The result is a roadmap that helps ensure ports continue serving the Virgin Islands safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

Why This Matters

Ports support everyday life.

Nearly everything used in the Virgin Islands arrives by sea. Reliable ports mean stable supply chains, lower costs, and stronger local businesses.

Storms and climate risks are increasing.

Hurricanes, flooding, and sea level rise pose growing risks to maritime infrastructure. Planning ahead helps reduce damage, downtime, and recovery costs.

Smart planning saves money.

By understanding asset conditions and prioritizing improvements, VIPA can invest wisely, avoiding emergency repairs and maximizing available funding.

Community voices make plans stronger.
Input from residents, workers, businesses, and partners ensures solutions reflect real needs and local priorities.

St. Croix’s Wilfred "Bomba" Allick Port and Transshipment Center, Source: VIPA

How the Planning Process Works

CHART follows a clear, step‑by‑step approach that combines technical analysis with community engagement.

Step 1: Understanding Assets and Risks

VIPA is assessing the condition of maritime facilities and identifying vulnerabilities to hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, and sea level rise. This includes inspections, data review, and resilience analysis to understand which assets are most critical and most at risk.

Step 2: Market Drivers and Community Needs

This step looks at how ports are used today and how they may be used in the future—considering cargo, cruise, ferry, and seaplane activity, economic trends, and community priorities. Public outreach and stakeholder input play a key role here.

Step 3: Looking Ahead to 2050+

Using what’s been learned, VIPA develops long‑term visions for each port and facility. These future scenarios consider infrastructure needs, growth opportunities, and potential changes over time.

Step 4: Developing Adaptation Strategies

VIPA evaluates practical solutions to reduce risk and improve resilience. These may include engineering improvements, operational changes, and nature‑based solutions. Strategies are assessed based on benefits, costs, and timing.

Step 5: Crafting the Plan

All findings, ideas, and input come together into clear, asset‑specific master plans that guide decisions, funding, and implementation over the long term.

St. Thomas’ Austin "Babe" Monsanto Marine Terminal, Source: VIPA