The owner of a Cayman tourism business that sank during the pandemic believes his 150-seat boat could be repurposed as a ferry for the Sister Islands.
Responding to concerns about reduced airlift into Little Cayman, Curtis Eldemire, owner of Marineland Tours, offered his vessel M/V Cayman Explorer as the solution.
Eldemire closed down the business after the COVID lockdown torpedoed tourism for almost two years. Now he is selling his fleet of boats and buses.
He said the Explorer, which has a cruising speed of 20 knots and a 2-foot draught, would be ideal for a ferry service.
The Compass reported last week that challenges with the Twin Otter fleet were restricting tourism in Little Cayman. Three dive boats were commandeered to transfer 72 passengers from the Brac with both planes out of action earlier this month.
And Sister Islands tourism businesses are concerned about the lack of seats for divers coming into the island.
Eldemire said his boat was cheaper than a new plane and handicapped-accessible, with bathrooms on board and life jackets for 150 passengers, plus space left for storage and luggage.
With the 2-foot draught, he said, the 72-foot vessel could cross the reef, if necessary, and didn’t even need a dock.
“It is basically like a giant jet-ski,” he said.
“It can basically just roll up to the beach and unload everybody there.”
He estimates it would be a half-hour trip between the Sister Islands.
Eldemire said he had no plans to operate the business himself. But if government or Sister Islands tourism chiefs are interested, he said the boat – previously used to take cruise passengers on tours around Grand Cayman – would make a perfect passenger ferry.
He said he had originally considered it as a public-transport option for Grand Cayman. But when he saw the situation in Little Cayman – with passengers transferred on dive boats and concerns about the number of life jackets – he pitched it as a solution.
Eldemire said he has closed up the water-sports business.
“I was moving 500-700 people a day before lockdown but I closed up and put everything up for sale,” he said.
“We didn’t survive the pandemic.”
Related Videos
Even with the proposed expansions and renovations to all three airports, an inter-Island ferry, such as the Cayman Explorer, might be a nice addition to inter-Island traffic. The ferry could also be a backup in times of problems such as that which was experienced recently. Travelers into Grand Cayman might even enjoy the experience of a ferry service vs. another airport connection and it might save them a few dollars, too. A study could be done about whether this might be a safe and lucrative addition to travel among the Islands.
The concept of a Ferry/Water Taxi for Grand Cayman, and perhaps between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman ought to be given serious consideration by the C.I. Government. The Eldermire’s nautical/maritime equipment may be a means of initiating this service, perhaps under a public/private sector investment and equity arrangement.
For Grand Cayman the time is right, especially with the gridlock vehicular traffic, for a proper (and initially publicly supported/subsidized) Ferry between Rum Point, and Camana Bay or the George Town Bacadere, with stops in Newlands and also Morgan’s Harbour. On the South and Northwest side of the Island, a Ferry/Water Taxi service could provide a much-needed and financially viable service between East End and North West Point. For example, it could start at the Frank Sound Dock, with stops in Bodden Town, and George Town, and onto 1 or 2 of the Docks at the West Bay Public Beach area.
We really need to think outside the box, and do something different NOW, otherwise the traffic gridlock will reach a critical tipping and boiling point.