The Gordon A. Finch Molasses Pier is located in Krause Lagoon on the south shore of St. Croix, covering an eight-acre site. The facility provides docking space for cable vessels, as well as storage for molasses and aggregate cargo. It features a roll-on/roll-off ramp, two breasting dolphins for berthing bulk-type vessels, and ample space for bulk cargo storage. Construction of the facility was completed in 1998.

 

Equipped with both asphalt and molasses pipelines, the pier has connections that extend from the dock to the storage tanks. Additionally, it includes a 560-foot by 70-foot concrete working apron and a 560-foot sheet pile bulkhead with breasting dolphins at both ends, allowing it to accommodate large vessels with drafts of up to 29 feet.

 

The primary use of this multi-purpose facility is the importation of molasses by tanker vessels for the Virgin Islands Rum Industries Limited distillery. It also supports the import of liquid asphalt to the island, as well as bulk cargo such as gravel, cement blocks, and other construction materials that are vital to St. Croix's construction industry. Moreover, the pier can accommodate submarine cable vessels used to lay and repair intercontinental underwater telephone cables.

 

In June 2022, a new cargo facility was completed, featuring five spacious cargo bays. The cargo dock is currently undergoing an extension, and dredging is in progress to facilitate the operations of the cargo vessels expected to use this facility. The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) plans to shift cargo operations from the Gallows Bay Marine Facility in Christiansted to the Molasses Pier.