The Virgin Islands Port Authority expects the parts to repair the damaged baggage belt in the ticketing area of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (HERA) Terminal to arrive by late August. The replacement parts for the baggage system were special ordered and trucked from Utah to Florida on July 27. Upon receipt by the freight forwarder in Florida, the parts will then be shipped via boat to St. Croix.
They will be installed immediately upon receipt by VIPA’s airport maintenance staff. The installation will take about four days. In the interim, VIPA is hiring temporary baggage handlers to assist travelers with their luggage.
VIPA apologizes to the traveling public for the long wait for repairs caused by difficulty sourcing the parts that could not be procured from any vendor due to the age of the 25-year-old baggage belt system. The parts had to be manufactured, which took some time. VIPA’s board has also authorized the complete replacement of the aging baggage handling system at HERA. Airport officials have already begun the process to develop specifications for the new system.
