Damaged cargo ship departs Kingstown

The cargo ship that was damaged while berthing at the Kingstown Cruise Terminal (KCT) on Sunday, forcing the cancellation of a cruise call, has left the terminal.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority (SVGPA) said Tuesday night that the vessel, Splendid Ace departed the terminal at noon on Tuesday.

The repairs were carried out to an acceptable standard under the guidance of an “NK class surveyor” who arrived in St. Vincent on Monday, the Port Authority said.

“The repair works to the vessel paved the way for the continuation of its voyage,” the press release said.

“The departure of the vessel Splendid Ace reflects the SVGPA’s commitment to operational resilience and its capacity to respond effectively to unexpected challenges, thereby contributing to efficiency and effectiveness in the trade and transport sector across the region,” the release said.

“The SVGPA extends its empathy and appreciation to all stakeholders affected by this incident. We also take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders and the broader community for their patience and cooperation while we worked to resolve this issue. We look forward to continuing our role as a trusted Port for secure and reliable logistical and maritime services.”

The incident resulted in the cruise ship Aurora, which has a capacity of 2,258 passengers, cancelling its scheduled call to KCT on Sunday.

It was the ship’s only scheduled call to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) this cruise season, which runs through April 23, according to a schedule published by the Ministry of Tourism.

On Sunday, the Port Authority said that use of KCT to berth cargo ships became necessary because of serious damage to the main Kingstown cargo pier caused by Hurricane Beryl.

The cyclone impacted SVG on July 1 as a category 4 hurricane that smashed several records, including the speed at which it developed.

A new cargo port that is being built in the city is slated to be completed by the middle of 2025.