BVI-USVI ferry news

[/b]The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) has approved a request from Road Town Fast Ferry to transport cargo from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI), starting Saturday, May 9. Road Town Fast Ferry will make cargo-only trips between St. Thomas and Tortola on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The request was granted after consultation and written approval was provided by the BVI Government, according to VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe
The ferry will clear customs in Cruz Bay, St. John, and it will arrive at the Edward W. Blyden IV Marine Terminal at 9:30 a.m. on St. Thomas to pick up cargo and supplies. The cargo shipments will be pre-arranged and delivered to the ferry for pickup. The captain and crew on the ferry will not disembark in St. Thomas, and there will be no passengers allowed on the vessel as the BVI’s borders are still closed to travelers due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The ferry will depart for Tortola at 11 a.m.
For more information, the public may call Road Town Fast Ferry directly at (284) 340-3976 or visit its website at https://www.roadtownfastferry.com/.[b]

Posted from STT Source online

I hope this is one step towards bringing passenger service back..

What is the latest news on belongers and residents being able to return?

I believe it is June 2nd for belongers and residents - Sept 2nd for non belongers

Any update for residents having to quarantine on return to the BVI's?

Thats a YES in a Government hotel you will not be allowed to go to your own residence. That is so far things may change.

Thanks Peter..not very encouraging!

They indicated in the last update that you could quarantine in private facilities with permission from the government. They specifically called out that having other people in the premises would be a no-go but that's not an issue for you. Should be more specifics next week or the week after.

My guess is the Ministry of Health would have to inspect/approve CRC and monitor once you're here.

If I can find the transcript, I'll post the link.

Thanks for that update LocalSailor!

So no more quarantines in your own residence with security watching. Government says too many folks cheated. So now only quarantine in a government hotel which non-locals will have to pay for. Can't imagine many tourist type folks doing this. Not my cup of tea. Government is paying for locals. 2.5 million is the cost They sure know how to spend money

How many cases of Covid are now reported in BVI? If still only one, then the quarantine at home is working even with cheating.

Currently no active cases. We had 8 total; 1 death, 7 recovered.

BVI has had 8 confirmed cases - 1 death and yes the Quarantine is effective but the total border closure is the main reason for low numbers.

The problem is at some point you have to open the boarders and deal with covid or you starve your people to death. Every new study shows the mortality lower than before. The BVI should have locked things down and put in place the required medical facilities and then started a phased reopening. When they do finally open they will deal with the same issues only have much more depleted financial resources.
G

If they really hold to their previously stated timeline, the BVI will be among the VERY last to reopen from Covid 19. Really tough on the economy, if everyone else is already open.

And BVI is late to the game of opening up in the Caribbean (or even proffering a plan) and risks travelers going elsewhere and not coming back...we still have New Yorkers come to OBX who first came when Hurricane Sandy hit their beaches and dont go back to NY beaches.

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/a-guide-to-the-caribbean-islands-reopening-this-summer

Hopefully they find some simple way to protect their citizens from travelers especially charterers because a 14 day quarantine is a deal killer. Antiqua's approach seems reasonable.