RUBY EXPRESS

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Expensive ferry will return to Germany

Arriving in the Antilles in July 2024, the 'Ruby Express' was to carry out maritime transport between Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia, but management has found that operating the ferry is too expensive. It will be repatriated to Europe and possibly replaced by a smaller vessel. On Feb 1, 2025,, Onick Deravel, CEO of FRS Express des Iles, confirmed that the flagship of the fleet costs 20% more to operate than initial estimates and does not correspond to the competitiveness policy for customers. The vessel is 60 meters long and 16.5 meters wide and therefore difficult to maneuver in the ports served by the company, which extends the operating time. Because of its dimensions, only Martinique can accommodate the ship in the event of a breakdown. To clean the hull, it must be anchored in the bay of Saint-Louis in Guadeloupe. FRS Express des Iles has still not recouped the significant costs of putting the 'Ruby Express' into circulation. There was the transatlantic trip from FRS headquarters in Germany, fuel, maintenance and staff training. The operation of the 'Ruby Express' has allowed FRS Express des îles to refurbish the three other ferries already in circulation, the 'Gold Express,' 'Perle Express' and 'Corail Express'. The work will be completed in June 2025. Due to the high prices for purchasing new ships, the fleet will not be renewed in the immediate future. In a few months, the 'Ruby Express' will return to FRS's headquarters in Germany.