The territory is awaiting the arrival of the new VITRAN ferry, which is currently under construction, the Public Works Department announced.
The catamaran designed by Incat Crowther is currently under construction by Gulf Craft LLC in Franklin, La. Recently, the framing and plating of the deck and cabin were completed. Currently, all the metalwork is being finished in preparation for sandblasting and painting. Additionally, various systems, from fuel to water piping, are being installed, according to the press release.
Construction of the ferry—recently named “The Spirit of 1733” by Virgin Islands residents—began in November 2023, following the award of the Federal Transit Administration’s 2022 Passenger Ferry Grant in January that same year, the press release stated.
The new ferry will be built with accessibility and an elevated customer experience in mind. It will feature two ADA-compliant bathrooms, including five dedicated wheelchair-accessible spaces, a fully enclosed luggage room on the main deck level, and integrated side boarding ramps for a safe and efficient boarding experience, the release stated.
The ferry will be capable of transporting up to 300 passengers. The air-conditioned main cabin will provide seating for up to 200 passengers and the vessel’s upper deck will transport up to 100 passengers in outdoor seating, it said.
The new passenger vessel will service the route between Red Hook on the island of St. Thomas and Cruz Bay on the island of St. John. Currently, two other Incat Crowther-designed vessels service this route, it said.
For more information, visit dpw.vi.gov and www.vitranvi.com.
