Vieques mayor proposes turning Mosquito Bay pier into cruise ship terminal

Vieques Mayor José Corcino Acevedo said the Mosquito Bay pier has ample space to develop supporting infrastructure for a cruise ship dock, which would include parking, concessions and transportation services.

By The Star Staff

Vieques Mayor José “Junito” Corcino Acevedo announced on Sunday that he is in discussions with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to open the Mosquito Bay pier for various types of cruise ships, including luxury vessels, to enhance tourism in the offshore island municipality.

Corcino said in a written statement that the pier has ample space to develop supporting infrastructure, which would include parking, concessions and transportation services.

“This pier is vital for the economic development of Vieques. Getting it operational as soon as possible is one of our top priorities,” the mayor said. “Its design and development, along with its 42-foot depth, make it ideal for accommodating all models of cruise ships. This pier would also offer a safe harbor for luxury cruise ships when they cannot anchor in the Esperanza area [of Vieques] due to poor sea conditions. They could dock at this sturdy pier, ensuring we don’t miss the economic benefits these arrivals bring to our small businesses. We must remember that destroyers and war cruisers have anchored here, so the structure and depth are very suitable.”

The U.S. Navy built the Mosquito Pier in 1941 with the purpose of creating a sea wall that extended from Vieques to the town of Ceiba on the main island, where the U.S. Naval Base at Roosevelt Roads was located. The purpose was to build a massive base to house the U.S. and British fleet. The plans changed and Project Mosquito Pier was halted in 1943 and never completed.

Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez added that the pier’s depth is adequate for deep-draft vessels.

“The mayor is focused on establishing a recurring source of income for the municipality, which will allow for improved services to citizens and the creation of new jobs,” Méndez, whose House District 36 includes Vieques, said during a visit to the island. “The Mosquito Bay pier has been identified as a unique platform in the entire region for anchoring cruise ships, including luxury vessels and other types of ships. The pier’s depth of over 42 feet and its design will enable these cruise ships to enter without issues. Thus, it has our full support.”

Also present during the tour of the facility were Norberto Negrón Díaz, executive director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority; Félix Lassalle Toro, executive director of the Public Buildings Authority; and Sports and Recreation Secretary Héctor Vázquez Muñiz; as well as executives from the Department of Transportation & Public Works and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Officials said Mosquito Bay will serve as a base for the short route between Pier No. 2 at the former Roosevelt Roads base in Ceiba and Vieques. Some residents oppose the change.