On Tuesday Government broke ground for the headquarters of the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) on Factory road.
The state of the art, 34,000 square foot building will rely on energy efficiency and green technology, including solar power during the construction phase, so that 30 to 50 percent of its daytime energy needs will be met through green technology.
Construction on the $24 million dollars building is estimated to be completed in 20 months.
“The maritime industry, more specifically the transportation of goods by sea and the provision of tourism based services by sea such as the cruise and yachting sectors, despite the current challenges faced remain a stable industry and by all accounts a perfect avenue for expansion,” Prime Spencer Dr. Hon. Baldwin Spencer said.
Ministe rof Finance the Hon. Harold Lovell noted the construction of the ADOMS headquarters will provide employment for more than 200 persons.
The three-storey structure will also house two other statutory bodies and a convention centre with seating for nearly 300 people.
Chairman of ADOMS, Gatesworth James said the occasion will form an indelible part of the history of the department of marine services and merchant shipping in the country.
