Speedy’s left with $7 million repair bill after Irma

Speedy’s Ferry Service has revealed that it racked up approximately $7 million in damages resulting from Hurricane Irma.

General Manager of the ferry company Coralie George, told our news site that all six of the company’s ferries suffered varying degrees of damages when the hurricane passed over the islands on September 6.

“We got over seven million in damages…two of them [boats], ended up in Cooper Islands’, Manchioneel Bay on the rocks and those were ferries that were significant in the building of this company,” she pointed out.

According to George, a company located in Australia, which was the original builders of the vessels, is currently conducting repair work to have them up and running soon.

Full Service February

The general manager noted that the damage has left the company with no other choice but to scale down its service.

“Normally we go to Tortola, Road Town, seven times in a day. Right now we are only doing three because of the equipment shortage. We would not be back on normal operations until February. Because our welders are going to go for Christmas and return in the new year to be with their families. But we are servicing the best that we can.”

She said trips to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands have also been impacted.

“We wouldn’t get back there until next year but Native Son is coming in next week to start to help us operate our schedule for us and we appreciate that. Normally we go three days a week, but they will only be going one day from Virgin Gorda to St. Thomas on Saturday.”

George noted that despite the setbacks there has not been any major hiccups or complaints from customers so far.

“People understand; they see the tragedy every single day and they know that we are building back to service.”

She added that there have not been any job cuts resulting from the setbacks.

“No job cuts. I had three resignations because of the evacuations but we have maintained our full staff of 62,” she said.