Thursday, September 09, 2010

Free travel on new ferry service

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Wednesday September 8, 2010 –

Several people will be able to travel free of cost, including the physically challenged, when the Caribbean’s new ferry service is launched by BEDY’s Travel of Grenada next month. The ferry service, when operational, will connect Barbados, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and St Vincent, providing daily services to those islands.

BEDY’s Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Ross promised yesterday that on each trip, 12 free seats will be allocated for the physically handicapped, persons requiring urgent medical attention, representatives of government travelling on government business, members of the clergy, persons travelling on special education assignments, as well as police officers. 

Ross said that would be in keeping with the agency’s Special Situation Seat Assignment Programme.
In giving an update on the launch of the ferry service, Ross said most of the pre-launch plans have been fine-tuned and by the end of this month, a comprehensive booking system will be in place at locations across the region.

Those persons living in the United States will also be able to make their inter-island travel reservations and cargo bookings through BEDY’s Miami office.  

Three vessels – one with a capacity for some 900 passengers, 180 motor vehicles and cargo, and two others, La Palma Express and Nutmeg Express, with a capacity of 260 and 300 respectively – will be utilised. The smaller vessels will provide inter-island tour and charter services. Ross said the schedule for the larger vessel is being revised. No exact date has been given for the launch of the ferry service, but BEDY said it would happen towards the end of next month.