Mosler Already Working On Second Ferryboat

ST. THOMAS — Warren Mosler’s QEIV ferryboat only recently began carrying passengers between St. Croix and St. Thomas, but Mr. Mosler is already working on a second boat, a sign that the business of cheaper inter-island travel is sustainable.

“Yes, Gold Coast has several boats ahead of me, but is doing some preliminary work,” Mr. Mosler said. He revealed that the new ferry, once operational, will be docked in St. Thomas, and the two will cross paths each trip.

The confirmation comes even as the government, which in July 2015 promised to deliver two top-of-the-line ferryboats, has been lagging behind, citing the lack of funds to procure the vessels.

On July 5, 2015, 31st Legislature senators who made up the Committee on Housing, Public Works and Waste Management favorably voted bill No. 31-0137 — an act establishing the Virgin Islands Ferryboat Fund as a separate and distinct fund in the treasury of the Virgin Islands.

The idea was to secure funds for at least two ferryboats for inter-island travel between St. Thomas and St. Croix, which was halted in 2011 after the sole ferry was damaged.

Back then, Department of Public Works Commissioner Gustav James said the government had already secured $7.5 million to purchase three vessels costing between $8-$10 million each. Mr. James said the process of searching for the first vessels had already commenced since the Mapp administration intended to purchase the ferryboats as funding became available, instead of waiting until the funds were secured.

Former At-Large Sen. Almando Liburd said at the time that he would’ve have liked to see the project come online because it would finally unite residents of the territory.

But during a hearing in the same committee in February, Mr. James said there was only $4 million that the government could use, while the ferryboats cost $10 million each.

“So we do not have enough funds to actually purchase the vessels that will be able to service that route,” Mr. James said, referring to the St. Thomas-St. Croix route in response to a question posed by Senator Novelle Francis.

Asked about the $7 million that was initially placed in an account for the ferries, Mr. James said, “The only $7 million that I know of was what was spent on the two ferries that we have.” Mr. James was referring to government ferries servicing the St. Thomas-St. John route. “We spent $7 million on two ferries that run between St. Thomas and St. John. I don’t know of another $7 million.”

The Consortium contacted the ferryboat bill’s chief sponsor, Neville James, to explain the delay, but Mr. James, who said he would return this reporter’s call on Tuesday, has not responded.