A floating dry dock which has been in the Port City since early Spring is on its way to its current home in Quebec City. The unit was used in the construction of 8 cement caissons which will form the foundation for the 200-million dollar expansion of the container pier on the west side of the port.
The caissons which are about as high as the Federal building at the corner of Prince William and Duke Streets will be moved into place and submerged soon. They will sit on the bottom of the harbour for a year to allow for settling. Meantime – work on other aspects of the project will continue next year.
The floating dry dock was at the centre of controversy last year after it was built at northern New Brunswick shipyard at taxpayers expense. Quebec based Groupe Ocean has a 20-year lease to use the dry dock and after a dispute with the Higgs government moved it to its base in Quebec