L’Express Des îles docked in Roseau on Sunday, marking the official return of the ferry service to Dominica.
The service was suspended for the island during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
With the loss of the ferry came a significant drop in passengers from French islands Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Managing Director of ferry agent HHV Whitchurch and Company Gairy Aird hailed the return of the service as a great day for Dominican passengers.
He dubbed Sunday’s call a “well organized and quite efficient” test of port health protocols.
A schedule has been published for the ferry until December, and four calls a week are expected.
Meantime, acting CEO of the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority Mislyn Valerie says ports are prepared to facilitate up to 50 ferry passengers, with strict protocols in place.
According to Valerie, passengers will be tested upon arrival. Unvaccinated passengers will be taken to Safe in Nature properties for quarantine, while vaccinated visitors who are medically cleared will be allowed to move freely.
