Last week’s passage of Tropical Storm Emily delayed the arrival of the barge and tug that will try to remove the Royal Miss Belmar ferry off Great St. James Cay, Austin Callwood, director of enforcement at the Planning and Natural Resources Department, said Monday.
The tug and barge were originally expected Aug. 2 or 3, but Callwood said he now expects them to arrive on St. Thomas Friday or Saturday.
The ferry went aground July 4 while on its way back to St. Croix from St. John following Festival fireworks. The 89-foot vessel suffered holes in each pontoon plus dents.
The barge and tug are coming from New York, but Callwood said they pulled into Port Everglades in Florida when the storm threatened.
When the barge and tug arrives it will anchor in about 300 feet out from the Royal Miss Belmar. Callwood said a crane on the barge will be used to lift the ferry off Great St. James and onto the barge.
“There should be minimal impact on the reef,” Callwood said.
