The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) has launched a tender for the salvaging, decommissioning and disposing of around 80 shipwrecks in the Simpson Bay Lagoon and Mullet Pond. In addition, the NRPB is procuring services to supervise the clean-up activities, which also includes the removal of shoreline and shallow water debris.

Cleaning up the lagoon after hurricanes Irma and Maria is one of the key activities under the Emergency Debris Management Project, which is financed by the Sint Maarten Trust Fund. During the implementation of the clean-up activities, careful consideration will be given to the environment. Measures are taken to ensure the safety for water traffic and surrounded communities.

The tenders have been prepared in close collaboration with the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), and the Nature Foundation. A public consultation held earlier in this year provided important input from marine industry stakeholders on risks and mitigation strategies. The received feedback was incorporated into the project’s Environmental & Social Management Plan, which has been prepared in compliance with the relevant environmental and social safeguards policies.

Bidding for the shipwreck tender will be conducted through an international competitive procurement process. A pre-bid meeting and site visit will take place on Tuesday December 3, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. Interested bidders must register via e-mail to procurement@nrpbsxm.org, by November 29, 2019. The bidding documents for both tenders can be found on the NRPB’s website (www.nrpbsxm.org/tenders).