Eleuthera News

Carnival Corporation & plc will establish a new industry apex in connectivity capabilities today at sea when it attempts to make an unprecedented level of bandwidth available to guests on board Regal Princess from its Princess Cruises brand. Using its newly developed connectivity service, MedallionNet, and working with SES Networks, the world-leading provider of satellite-enabled connectivity solutions, Carnival Corporation and Princess Cruises will attempt to achieve bandwidth of 1.5 gigabits per second, the most ever delivered to a mobile platform. The record attempt will demonstrate that connectivity is no longer a limitation to cruise vacations. Guests using MedallionNet have access to the internet at speeds that eclipse typical land-based hotel connectivity performance levels.

Hurricane Joaquin was gaining strength on Thursday as it moved toward the Bahamas, with forecasts still inconclusive on whether the storm would slam into the U.S. East Coast or head out to sea without making landfall, the Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Joaquin, the third hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic season, intensified late Wednesday into a Category 3, on a scale of 1 to 5, with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (185 kph). The storm was expected to gain strength and could become a Category 4 over the next day as it moves near or over portions of the Bahamas, the NHC said. Several models show the hurricane turning north, bringing it to the coast of the Carolinas or mid-Atlantic states on Friday or Saturday, the agency said.

Ten years ago, a RoRo passenger service called Sealink, commenced in the Bahamas — operating from Nassau to port of Governor's Harbor on the adjacent island of Eleuthera. The vessel that performed this service was an aging 14-knot Greek ferry, which established a solid market within the RoRo sector. Despite its healthy growth spurt, the venture ceased in 1993 resulting from rising repair costs and maintenance, specifically in the machinery department, as some engine parts had since been discontinued. Then a group of local businessmen purchased an Australian RoPax catamaran to re-enter the Eleuthera trade. This vessel, which incidentally is also named Sealink, is from the Sea Transport Solutions (STS) design studio in Queensland, Australia.

Hornblower Marine Services will be responsible for the complete start-up and operating infrastructure, in addition to the daily operations of Bahamas Fast Ferry Service Limited. This new ferry service will provide high-speed transportation between Nassau, Harbor Island, Eleuthera and other destinations. The 114 ft. (35 m) Solent Class, high-speed catamaran, designed by FBM Marine and built by Pequot River Shipworks, will be used to transport visitors, as well as Bahamian residents (177 total) at speeds of 35-40 knots. Hornblower has entered into yet another venture, this time with Virginia-based MetroMarine Holdings for a passenger ferry service between downtown Hampton and downtown Norfolk.

Hornblower Marine Services will be responsible for the complete start-up and operating infrastructure, in addition to the daily operations of Bahamas Fast Ferry Service Limited. This new ferry service will provide high-speed transportation between Nassau, Harbor Island, Eleuthera and other destinations. The 114 ft. (35 m) Solent Class, high-speed catamaran, designed by FBM Marine and built by Pequot River Shipworks, will be used to transport visitors, as well as Bahamian residents (177 total) at speeds of 35-40 knots. Hornblower has entered into yet another venture, this time with Virginia-based MetroMarine Holdings for a passenger ferry service between downtown Hampton and downtown Norfolk.

Operating between Nassau and Harbor Island and Eleuthera in the Bahamas, M/V Bo Hengy carries passengers daily for this ferry service that provides an innovative form of transportation, inter-island in the Bahamas. Until now, the only form of transportation on this route was via air, mailboat or private vessel. Along the designated route for Bo Hengy is a treacherous three-mile section located at the northern tip of Eleuthera. Known as the Devil's Backbone, this is the sole way around the north end - the primary destination of Bo Hengy. As a result, a comprehensive risk assessment was carried out to evaluate the risks associated with operating the vessel on the inter-island route.

Operating between Nassau and Harbor Island and Eleuthera in the Bahamas, M/V Bo Hengy carries passengers daily for a ferry service providing an innovative form of transportation, inter-island in the Bahamas. Until now, the only form of transportation on this route was via air, mailboat or private vessel. Along the designated route for Bo Hengy is a treacherous three-mile section located at the northern tip of Eleuthera. Known as the Devil's Backbone, this is the ony way around the north end- the primary destination of Bo Hengy. Consequently, a comprehensive risk assessment was carried out to evaluate the risks associated with operating…