BVI News

Additional daily ferry to operate to and from USVI starting June 1

File photo of travellers arriving at the Road Town Ferry Terminal after the April 15 reopening of the territory’s seaport to international traffic. (Photo credit: Ronnielle Frazer/GIS)

The BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) is permitting an additional ferry service to operate between the BVI and US Virgin Islands (USVI) each day.

Currently, only one round trip ferry operates between the two territory’s daily — departing the BVI at 8 am and returning at 4 pm from St Thomas in the USVI. But this about to change starting next month.

Effective June 1, the BVIPA’s proposed supplementary ferry service will depart BVI at 11 am daily and return at 2 pm from St Thomas.

This news comes a on the heels of news that the passenger limit for ferries operating between the BVI and the USVI has increased from 50 persons to 65 passengers.

That increase of 15 passengers took effect yesterday, May 27 and was the handy work of Ports Minister, Premier Andrew Fahie who led a delegation from the BVI into a successful negotiation with the governor of the USVI, Albert Bryan, Jr.

The 65-person passenger limit is reportedly based on the clearance and testing capacity of both governments’ operations.

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12 Comments

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  1. Tim says:

    I understand the bvi capacity limit hence the 65…

    What kind of capacity issue does the usvi have? Fact is, they have no problem accommodating water taxi ..

    (Referring to bvi to st Thomas ferry)

    Like 7
    Dislike 11
  2. Hmm says:

    The tourists ready to come in and spend but the GOVERNMENT keeping them out

    Like 13
    Dislike 11
    • fast says:

      they have to change the strategy and figure out ways on how they can scale … these processes are not scaling, they were put together knowing limited travel. If you really want to bring in more people, you need to think differently and not just do more of the same by working harder.

      Working hard is good, at some point… you have to work smarter and use all the tools available.

      specifically … move to rapid testing, especially for vaccinated people.

      if folks are testing before they fly in, they are vaccinated, the only thing the PCR tests on day 1 (which is the hold up) will catch are false positive.

      do one, do two of those (in case of false positive) as folks on board the ferry and by the time they get into the port, they will have test results ready …

      There are ways … but you need to be open to new ideas and use whatever science can offer you.

      Like 15
      Dislike 1
  3. YOUTH says:

    I commend the Government

    Like 1
    Dislike 4
  4. shark says:

    that ferry should be departing st thomas at 5pm the majority of flights starts at 1pm landing.Tabin u done know this why not leave 5pm

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  5. People says:

    As a business owner I can say that tourism has started to rebound and the Government is doing better and better in this area. I was one critical of them publicly in this area but I must give them credit now publicly.

    Like 3
    Dislike 7
  6. Angie says:

    Will they ve extending it to San Juan as well?

  7. Time change says:

    A 9:30 or 10am ferry to St Thomas makes more sense to allow people to get to the airport to make the flights that leave from 1-3pm. 11am is too late. Whoever decided on these times just doesn’t understand what the public needs. Please review.

  8. Trip advisor says:

    Mr minister 11am is to late some flight leave at 10 and what can people get do in st thomas if the boat leaves here at 11 by the time they reach st thomas they have to return back to tortola you see minster it don’t make sense come on minister do something better

  9. Skip says:

    We totally postponed our May 26 to June 3 BVI yacht charter until 2022 because of both the dumb single Ferry schedule and the PCR tests still required even though all 8 of us have been vaccinated. What a shame, ready to spend thousands and enjoy the BVI but maybe next year. We know the BVI needs tourists dollars now but your slow govt. policies killed the trip for this year. Hopefully we’ll see you in 2022.

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