Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said the design of the proposed St. Croix–St. Thomas passenger and vehicle ferry is about 30 percent complete following recent site visits and coordination meetings in both districts, Government House announced in a press release.
Bryan met with Public Works Commissioner Derek Gabriel after a week of technical inspections by ferry design firm Incat Crowther. The firm visited ports in the St. Croix District and the St. Thomas–St. John District during the week of Feb. 9 to assess operating conditions and coordinate with the Virgin Islands Port Authority, according to the press release.
“This is about doing it right the first time,” Bryan said in the release. “We are designing a passenger and vehicle ferry that fits our routes, our ports, and the conditions our operators and passengers deal with every day. These site visits put the right experts on the ground so we make sound technical decisions now, not expensive corrections later.”
The administration is moving through the design phase with attention to safety, reliability, accessibility and long-term performance. On-site evaluations are intended to ensure the vessel will operate efficiently at existing marine facilities and perform reliably in local waters, the press release stated.
Incat Crowther, which previously completed design work for other government-owned vessels including the Spirit of 1733, met with VIPA marine officials to review docking conditions, traffic flow, passenger circulation and navigational requirements. The discussions also addressed potential upland and waterside improvements needed to support passenger and vehicle operations, the release stated.
Key elements under development include ADA-compliant access and accommodations, as well as an advanced propulsion system to support more dependable service, the release stated.
Gabriel provided an update on design progress and coordination efforts, confirming that information gathered during the site visits will guide technical decisions in the coming months, according to the release.
The design is expected to be finalized in the coming months as the project moves toward procurement and implementation.
“This ferry is about connecting our people, strengthening commerce between districts, and making interisland travel more dependable,” Bryan said in the release. “We are keeping the work moving, and we will keep the public informed every step of the way.”
If the Senators and Governor are required to use it, then maybe it will be a good design. Otherwise I suspect it will need plenty vomit capacity.