In an update last week on the status of the new St. Thomas-St. John ferries, Transportation Services general manager Kenrick Augustus said that Cruz Bay I, the new ferry to be operated by his company, would undergo a final Coast Guard inspection Thursday, and likely go into operation Monday. On Monday, however, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Bryson Spangler said that Transportation Services had put off last week’s inspection until a later date because the company wasn’t prepared for the inspection.
Another inspection will be held at an as yet unspecified date, Spangler said.
Numerous calls since last week to Augustus have not been returned. Nor has Public Works Commissioner Daryl Smalls returned calls on the ferry’s status.
As for the other ferry, to be operated by Varlack Ventures, Spangler said he has not had a request for a final inspection.
The ferries, which arrived late last year, were dedicated in a December ceremony and were anticipated to be in service before the end of the year, according to remarks by Public Works Commissioner Daryl Smalls at that time. Since then, a series of contract disputes between the ferry’s franchise operators and the government have held up getting the vessels operational.
