The Government of Montserrat has received two bids from operators seeking to provide ferry and cargo services to the island for a six-month period.
The tendering process, which began on Tuesday, September 23rd, closed on Tuesday, October 27th, at midday, with two companies submitting proposals to service the island from December 1st, 2026 to May 31st, 2027.
The bids will now be evaluated by a panel comprising representatives from the Government of Montserrat and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), who will conduct its assessment independently, in accordance with the Public Procurement Act and Regulations 2025.
Under the proposed arrangement, the primary ferry service would operate between Montserrat and Antigua five to six days per week, while a secondary service between Montserrat and Nevis would operate one to two days per week.
The tender also makes provision for special voyages.
The successful operator will be required to provide a fully crewed vessel and manage both passenger and cargo operations.
The tender document specified that the proposed vessel must have a minimum certified capacity of 100 passengers, a service speed of at least 18 knots and be suitable for open-sea operations.