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 SW view from Fort Frederiksted's cannons | |
| Type | Working pier, deep water, cruise ship |
|---|---|
| Locale | Custom House Street Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Official name | Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility |
| Characteristics | |
| History | |
| Opening date | July 15, 1994 |
| Coordinates | 17°42′50″N64°53′18″W / 17.713944°N 64.888349°W /17.713944; -64.888349 |
TheFrederiksted Pier (officially named: Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility)[1] is the 1,526-foot (0.465 km or 0.29 mile),[2] deep water, cruise shippier located inFrederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is located at the west end ofSaint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and accommodate twoEagle-class vessels, of a maximum of 142,000 gross tons each with drafts up to 29 feet and two mini-cruise vessels with drafts of 18 feet. Anchorage is also available in the outer harbor for larger ships. The platform of the pier is equipped with a fendering system that is designed for submarines.
A shopping area is located within walking distance to the pier. Additionally, ground transportation, public restrooms and other services are available. While the pier is the gateway to shopping in Frederiksted, taxis and tour buses take visitors to Christiansted for shopping, sightseeing, and on round-the-island tours.
Elevation is 10 feet (3 meters) above sea level at the outermost point, with 3 foot (1 meter) high access platforms for entry onto scuba diving boats and sailing charters.
The original pier was destroyed in 1989 byHurricane Hugo and again ravaged in 1995 byHurricane Marilyn. Remains of the old pier are still there with decades of coral growth and sponges. Some of the old pier was used as landfill for the current pier platform, while the vast majority was removed and sunk two miles north in 110 foot deep water at adive site known as Armageddon.
The pier is a popular destination[3] forscuba diving enthusiasts, snorkeling,sport fishermen, swimming competitions,[4][5] and internationally recognized stand-uppaddleboarding competition the Coconut Cup.[6] There is a large public beach directly off the pier, used by locals and tourists for strolls and scenic views, as well as many restaurants and bars. Scuba on the Frederiksted Pier is a shallow dive, ideal for trying scuba the first time courseresort diving, for extended shore diving,night diving, and especially forunderwater photography[7]—offering views of creatures such asseahorses,batfish andfrogfish at depths of 7 metres.[8][9] Dive shops in Frederiksted include Ne2une Scuba, St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures (SCUBA) and Adventures in Diving STX.[10][11][12]
