Ferry service resumes following Hurricane Erin

By The Star Staff

The Integrated Transportation Authority (ATI) and Puerto Rico Ferry announced Monday that, after a brief pause in operations to ensure the safety of all passengers, crew, terminals and vessels, service resumed operations on the Metro and Island routes Monday morning.

The rapid resumption ensured accessibility to all ports in the system and to communities, benefiting residents, businesses, and essential services in the aftermath of Hurricane Erin, the entities said.

Puerto Rico Ferry, established as a public-private partnership for the operation of maritime transportation services, maintains and follows state-of-the-art safety protocols developed and implemented under the partnership model. Following Hurricane Erin, all vessels and terminals were immediately assessed, and once weather conditions permitted, service resumed operations.

“Under our partnership, the maritime transportation system is better prepared than ever to respond to hurricanes and emergency situations, ensuring a rapid return to service,” ATI Executive Director Josué Menéndez said.

“Our crew is committed to ensuring safety and reliability under any weather conditions, and in the event of a hurricane, we are prepared to quickly assess the system and return to service safely,” added Matthew Miller, president of HMS Ferries, operator of Puerto Rico Ferry.