High-speed ferry services between Mahe, Praslin and La Digue-Keeping abreast of developments in tourism |02 June 2007

This follows the launching last weekend by Baie Ste Anne-based Inter Island Ferry of a new high-speed passenger catamaran for the Praslin-La Digue ferry run, merely a week after Victoria-based Inter Island Boats inaugurated its new, bigger, faster and more comfortable Mahe-to-Praslin passenger catamaran, the Cat Cocos II.

While the Cat Cocos II has reduced the Mahe to Praslin travelling time to 45 minutes from its predecessor’s 65 minutes, the new 150-seat Praslin-La Digue ferry, christened Cat Rose’s, will halve the crossing between those two islands from half an hour to 15 minutes.

Owned by Praslinois William Rose, Inter Island Ferry, which for the past 25 years has been operating schooner services between the two islands, is keeping one of its two schooners, the graceful Curieuse, to supplement the Cat Rose’s and to offer a more exotic experience to the growing incentive and groups market and to offer special package trips around the islands.

Standing in for Vice-President Joseph Belmont at the official inauguration of Cat Rose’s at the Baie Ste Anne jetty last Sunday, Minister Ronny Jumeau of Environment & Natural Resources noted that the heavy investments made by both Inter Island Ferry and Inter Island Boats into acquiring the new vessels would not have been made if the two companies did not firmly believe that it is worth every minute of their time, every inch of effort and every cent of investment.          
“The owners of Inter Island Ferry and Inter Island Boats are obviously convinced that Seychelles tourism is going places with a drive and a panache that demands an equal boldness of commitment and investment from tourism services and establishments if they are not to be left behind,” Minister Jumeau said.

“Such daring and foresight in investment, dedication to continually upgrading the tourism industry, commitment to providing ever-improving services, determination to make the country succeed along with the investors, and clear love for Seychelles will always catch the Government’s eyes and ears and earn its support,” noted Minister Jumeau.
Cat Rose’s, which measures 24 metres long, was brought over on the same cargo ship as Cat Cocos II.

The launching of Cat Rose’s last Sunday was attended by Mr Rose's family; the members of the National Assembly-elect for Baie Ste Anne, Grand Anse Praslin and the Inner islands; Mr Joe Albert, the owner of Inter Island Boats, as well as other representatives of the company;  Mr Frank Hoareau of Barclays Bank which financed the project; representatives of the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Seychelles Port Authority and other dignitaries from Praslin, La Digue and Mahe.

After the inauguration ceremony, guests were treated to a cruise around the inner islands of La Digue, Felicite, Ile Cocos, Petite Soeur and Grande Soeur.