Categorized | Featured, National News

Bimini Cruise Ship Docked

Bimini-SuperFast-jpg

Days after the prime minister’s wife christened the Superfast VI in the Port of Miami, the 32,000 ton vessel will remained docked as it passed a number of US Coast Guard safety tests.

The boat is expected to bring 400,000 visitors to Resorts World Bimini, which opened on Friday.

According to reports the crew of the vessel couldn’t meet the requirement that passengers must be off the ship and in lifeboats within 30 minutes.

In addition, the emergency sources of power and the mechanism that allows lifeboats to drop from the ship malfunctioned.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, who was among the 600 guests when the ship was christened, said he’s disappointed that the cruise has not sailed yet.

But said he believes that rigorous testing is necessary.

“From what I gathered at the time, the Coast Guard had the responsibility of approving the sailing of the ship and that they had not finished with their processing and given what has been happening recently with cruise ships even though it is just a two-hour trip, it is taking 400,000 people during a course of a year,” Mr. Christie said.

“And so I would want the most rigorous testing myself and even though there is some disappointment that the ship has not yet cruised the fact of the matter is that it is all a part of making sure that safety is the priority.”

Bimini SuperFast received safety inspections overseas after it was built in 2001.

Panama then certified the ship to carry passengers. Before Miami, the cruise ship operated out of the Greek isles.

The Genting ship had never entered U.S. waters until two weeks ago, Espino-Young said. The company was under the impression that the ship’s previous certification from Panama meant simpler safety inspections in US waters.

The cruise ferry is expected to provide a comfortable, inexpensive under $50 and fast mode of transportation to Bimini for both tourists and residents of Bimini.

Resorts World Bimini will also build at its expense a deep water jetty and terminal for a cost of some $10 million at which Superfast VI and two mega yachts will dock.

Until the dock is completed later this year, the developer has acquired two large catamarans to be used as tenders.

Officials believe some 400 new direct said the economic impact on the Bimini economy.

Written by Jones Bahamas

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