According some reports that are emerging from Charlestown, the ferry, known as Island Express 3, was safely secured last night, (Saturday 22nd September, 2012), but by daylight on Sunday 23rd September, the boat had disappeared, only to be discovered later at the bottom of the ocean; almost exactly in the spot where it was anchored overnight, not too far from the hotel’s ferry dock.
Early reports have indicated that no passenger or crew member was on board at the time and therefore there was no danger to the guests at the resort.
MiyVue.com has also learnt from sources in Basseterre that maritime officials have already been in Nevis to help with the investigations.
The Island Express 3 was licensed to transport approximately 68 passengers and crew and had recently returned from dry dock in St. Maarten, where repairs and other maintenance work would have been undertaken.
However, there are more questions than answers, but at the moment the investigations have begun to discover what may have occurred. What is also of some concern is that this is the second ferry for the resort that has sunk in the past couple weeks.
Today’s sinking of Island Express 3 follows that earlier in September of the sinking of the Nevisian Dream, which was licensed to carry 20 passengers. It was via a poll on the social media Facebook that this boat was given its name, following an online competition. Similarly there was no danger posed to hotel guests in that incident.
With the loss of these two boats, the resort is now left with just one vessel, the Nevisian Spirit, to make the transfers in the coming months until new ferries are secured.
The Four Seasons Resort, since being opened on Nevis in 1991, has operated an extremely safe ferry service for its guests, after they arrive in St. Kitts at the Robert Bradshaw International Airport. The resort has also been known for the high priority it places on the safety of its guests generally, but especially when it comes to all transfers.
The Four Seasons Resort, Nevis remains one of the top hotels in the world.