Before the end of this month there should be daily sea ferry service between Bonaire and Curaçao. The ferry will carry not only passengers, up to 200 of them, but also cars and trucks, perhaps 20, depending on their size.  The operator, BCA ferries, hopes to have the Customs and Immigration procedures ironed out ahead of that time so as not to inconvenience the passengers.
The ferry was sailed here from Norway, "without a wrench touching the engine," said the delivery captain. "If I knew what a good ship she was I'd have bought her for myself."  The ferry is named the Renga, but will be rechristened Tribon (Shark). She's 30 years old, but that's not a bad thing. It's a truism in the shipping industry that the critical age for a vessel is 20 years. That's when major systems have to be renewed. If the ship is questionable, the expense isn't warranted and the vessel abandoned. One thing is for sure, she won't have the "teething problems" that afflicted the Chogogo, the high speed ferry that was so popular until maintenance problems made it uneconomical to operate in the rough waters between the islands.
The 33-meter-long (109 ft.) Tribon's cruising speed is 9½ knots, with a top speed of 10½, using the original diesel engine built in 1973, which means it can take the ferry about four hours to go from Kralendijk to Annabaai, Willemstad, and perhaps five hours for the return trip.   Admiral Shipping is the agent in charge of all sales and marketing for the ferry. The ferry company itself has a number of investors, several from Bonaire.
For the next couple of weeks the ferry will be in Curaçao getting the needed maintenance, modifications and safety inspections. She will be based in Kralendijk, just as her predecessor Chogogo was. It's anticipated that she will leave Bonaire daily at 6 am to arrive in Curaçao at 10 am. It will moor at the Brion wharf which is near the Free Zone area. At 5 in the afternoon the Tribon will return to Bonaire, arriving around 10 or 11 pm.
Passengers sit below the ferry deck where the motion is less. However, it is almost a sealed compartment and will be well air conditioned and free of fumes. Drinks and snacks will be available as will be large screen TV with views from the upper deck and movies to pass the time. There is also a small standing area on deck.
It's anticipated that the passenger fare will be NAƒ75-100, round trip. Automobiles will be about NAƒ200 one way, but no rates have been officially announced. Autos will be sturdily fastened to the deck to keep them from damaging themselves and the ship. It's hoped that the vehicles can be driven on from the bow (see photo) in Bonaire and off from the stern in Curaçao, which will be fast and easy.
This approach to ferrying between the islands is much more conventional and economical that that taken with the ill-fated Chogogo. Even though the ship has many times the displacement (weight) she uses far less fuel and has a far lower top speed. But because she plows through the water, rather than planing on the waves, she should be more comfortable and be able to sail to her destinations more directly.
Because she can carry personal automobiles and pickups, to say nothing of commercial vehicles, it may change the shopping habits of Bonaireans and mean local merchants, appliance and car dealers will have to offer more competitive prices or watch their customers shop Curaçao.   G.D.