Smith’s Ferry submits alternative departing schedule to Gov’t
The three companies that ply the route on a daily basis are Smith’s Ferry, Native Son and Road Town Fast Ferry.
In the proposal, which seeks to better serve the travelling public, it is suggested that week one – Native Son departs Road Town at 6:45 am; Smith’s 7:40 am; Road Town Fast Ferry 9:15 am; Native Son 10:40 am; Smith’s 12:25 pm; Road Town Fast Ferry 1:25 pm; Native Son 2:40 pm and Smith’s 3:45 pm. The following week Smith’s Ferry gets the early run and week three Road Town Fast Ferry.
Interestingly, it has been proposed that each ferry stops at West End before travelling to St. Thomas.
The aim of the alternative departing schedule, the proposal stated, is to eliminate the overcrowding at the USVI and VI Immigration, reduce waiting time for the inbound vessel and its passengers; offer more opportunities of choice to the travelling public; reduce the wear and tear caused by the close turnaround time and the number of trips, among others.
And while the ferry owners remain tight-lipped about the issue, Virgin Islands News Online was informed that at least two meetings were held with Premier Dr. D Orlando Smith and Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark Vanterpool.
In an interview with Hon. Vanterpool, he disclosed Government is looking at the recommendations submitted and a final meeting with the ferry operators will be held “either next Monday or Tuesday”.
“...following that meeting the Ports Authority will come forward with a schedule proposed that we will try to implement with the ferry operators,” he added.
When asked if Smith’s schedule is the best solution, the Minister opined “It’s too quick to change that. The passengers will have to get accustomed but ultimately in the long run we would like to see a fixed schedule that passengers going to St. Thomas know that a boat is going at a certain time and they go there and get on a ferry boat. We may reduce the frequency in change to a longer time on a weekly basis.”
For ferry operators who have their own private arrangements with charter companies and agencies will continue to do so, with Hon. Vanterpool adding, “we respect those arrangements that they have and we hope they live up to the expectations with the companies they have been contracted by.”
Furthermore, the suggestion that each ferry stops at West End before moving on is not necessarily a done deal, the Minister added.
“We are not going to make these changes. All we are saying is, we want to avoid a situation that is happening, where the ferries have to wait in the St. Thomas Harbour for a long time for each other unnecessarily and therefore why should they leave at the same time and when you reach down there you have to wait an hour or two to be cleared. The ferry owners agree that is not necessary...so we just want to find a solution and we have to work it through, without rushing it and understanding the urgency of it.”
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