The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
Corporate Communications
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Jean P. Greaux, Jr., Director of Corporate Communications
340-774-3552 extension 2147 or 340-244-7330
communications@viwapa.vi / www.viwapa.vi
WAPA’S FUEL SUPPLY GAS CARRIER OUT TO SEA WHILE ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF ITS MOORING ARE UNDERWAY
WAPA advises the public that over the next 24-48 hours, the very large gas carrier, Berge Summit, a prominent nautical site along the south coast of St. Thomas, will be off its mooring, and out to sea while routine inspections are made of the vessel’s single point mooring.
The mooring, located some 7.5 nautical miles southwest of St. Thomas, is subject to routine inspection from time to time. While the mooring is undergoing inspection and maintenance, the owner of the gas carrier will simultaneously use the opportunity to operate the vessel at sea to test all of its systems and functionalities.
The large green-colored vessel stores approximately one million gallons of liquid propane which is shuttled to WAPA’s power plants by two smaller vessels. The shuttle vessels, Epic Caledonia and Epic Curacao, and the Berge Summit are leased by VITOL as part of the company’s operations in the territory. VITOL is under contract with WAPA to operate LPG terminals at the power plants on St. Thomas and St. Croix, and to supply WAPA with propane fuel to produce electricity.
The Berge Summit being at sea and the ongoing inspections of the mooring will have no effect on WAPA’s propane supply or on its electrical generating operations.
# # #
About WAPA: The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is an autonomous agency of the Virgin Islands Government which produces and distributes electricity and drinking water to residential and commercial customers in the territory. WAPA was created by the Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands in 1964 through Act No. 1248. Today, WAPA generates electrical power at production plants on St. Thomas and St. Croix and distributes electrical service through smart grids to customers on St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Hassel Island, and Water Island. Potable water is distributed to almost 13,000 customers through water lines and standpipes. WAPA also has the responsibility of installing and maintaining streetlights.