New Bahamas Ferry Fails Safety Checks, Remains Docked in Florida

A vessel that officials said is expected to ferry 400,000 visitors annually between Miami and Bimini in the Bahamas remains docked in Florida due to a “laundry list” of safety infractions, according to US Coast Guard chief inspector Janet Espino-Young.

The revelation came days after Prime Minister Perry Christie, several Cabinet ministers and other government officials took part in a christening ceremony and tour of the vessel in Miami on Friday.

The ship’s inaugural voyage was supposed to coincide with the grand opening of the Resorts World Bimini Bay Casino that same day. When asked about the ship’s safety deficiencies, Christie said he was disappointed that the vessel was not yet seaworthy.

The ship also failed an emergency transitional power test, which ensures that a vessel has at least 30 minutes of electricity to sustain emergency systems in the event of a power loss.

However, there are still many pending deficiencies that are being worked on and items that need to be repaired, she said, adding that the ship will be docked until those deficiencies are corrected.

The Bimini Superfast ferry can carry up to 3,000 passengers at a time, according to officials. Tourism officials have said the ferry will open up new tourist markets for Bimini and complement the island’s boutique casino.