Mr. Speaker, on 27th June 2021, the fast ferry Resolute returned to Bermuda after an extensive 9-month refit project at Gladding-Hearn shipyard in Boston, the original builders, at the cost of 2 million dollars. This refit will extend the vessels life span by some 12 years.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding is located in Massachusetts. It is the closest shipyard to Bermuda, with suitable facilities and relevant expertise.  While other yards may have suitable expertise, they are located further away. This increased distance represents a higher cost and risk for the deliveries and could impact the vessels’ return to service.  

Gladding-Hearn has a history of successful projects with Marine and Port Services dating back to 1980.  These projects include:  

•    St. George-pilot boat (1980)

•    Dragon- buoy tender & buoys (1981)

•    Princeton and Inspector-tugs (1984)

•    St David-pilot boat (1986)

•    Refit of St. George (1998)

•    Serenity and Resolute- ferries (2002)

•    St. David – pilot boat-(2011)   

Additionally, they regularly provide expert advice and service parts to Marine and Port Services to keep the vessels in service. They value this business and interface with Marine and Ports personnel as it gives them essential feedback as to which design details and products work best in Bermuda’s environment so that they can improve their future service.   

Mr. Speaker, the Resolute has all new machinery, including main engines, generators, steering system, newly upgraded air conditioning, new windows, updated navigational equipment, all new interior, new bathrooms and fully outfitted with CCTV cameras with recording capabilities and a PA system for public safety announcements to name a few.

The Resolute is currently being cleaned and prepped to return to service on both the green and blue ferry routes servicing both the general public and our cruise ship passengers.

Mr. Speaker, last week Thursday I had the opportunity to see the upgrades first hand. I was also able to meet with the ‘all Marine and Ports crew’ who delivered the Resolute on the 635 nautical mile voyage across the North Atlantic Ocean. They are:

•    Captain - Joseph Nicholas Maynard

•    Chief Engineer - Jean Lemaire 

•    Deck Officer - Elijah Simmons 

•    Seaman – Calvin Burgess

•    Seaman - Warren Foggo

•    Mechanic - Jomel Smith

Mr. Speaker, the second fast ferry Serenity, is scheduled to depart for the Boston shipyard the week of July 19 2021, to undergo a similar refit and is expected to return to Bermuda in May 2022.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.