The Ocean Cay Marine Reserve (OCMR) is a 100-acre island development within the Bimini Chain of Islands in The Bahamas. The island was used historically for sand mining and processing operations and was purchased by MSC Cruises with the intent of transforming the barren industrial landscape into a lush tropical escape for the exclusive use of its cruise passengers.
To accomplish this feat, large-scale dredging was deployed to create an access channel for the cruise ships and build up the island’s physical footprint. Marine and Earthworks were undertaken to form and armor the shoreline, create a primary port of entry, build two marinas, and shape 45 acres worth of beaches. Simultaneously, extensive environmental clean-up was undertaken to address decades of industrial use. Thirty core buildings were erected, including a Lighthouse, Restaurants, Tiki Bars, Bathrooms, Administrative Offices, and Staff Housing Complexes. Another fifty ancillary cabana structures were installed along the beaches. 75,000 trees and plants were installed, and over 2 miles worth of walkways and golf-cart pathways were cast. The Utility Infrastructure Complex built to support the island consisted of plants for Water Production, Storage and Distribution; Diesel and Solar Electrical Generation and Distribution; Irrigation Distribution; Wastewater Collection, Transmission, Treatment and Disposal; Fuel Storage and Distribution; Ice Production, Trash Compaction and Incineration, Site Lighting, Data and Communications and much more.