New inter-island ferry Isle of La Digue is here |11 June 2011

The catamaran, owned by Creole Travel Services, will be used as a back-up to the bigger vessel and can also serve on the Praslin-La Digue run.

A Creole Travel Services spokesperson told a Nation journalist who was at the inter-island quay at the time that the older Cat Cocos was leaving late afternoon for Praslin, that it has not been determined yet what the schedule of the new ship will be.

One thing for sure, it will offer Creole Travel more flexibility when there are cruise ships in Port Victoria, requiring extra transportation facilities to tourists wishing to visit the inner islands.

She said that being smaller, the new catamaran has two classes, instead of three. There is also just one bar facility, compared to two for the bigger catamaran.