USVI-On-Line

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Interesting. I'm sure there is an answer at a secure dock. I'm also sure that they will have to pay more which means the day sails will cost more.

yeah i saw that as well--wonder how it will work itself out and when--a lot of folks could take a big hit if it doesn't get resolved!

That's just sickeningly stupid. Is anyone out there really worried about AlQueda staging an attack on St John or Tortola? If the great Homeland (Fatherland?) Security wants to do something, they ought to clean up the gang problems in our own cities. I'm not worried at all about somebody over in AbuDabi, I'm worried about the crack addict/gang bangers down the street.

Sucks!
Jimmy

I wonder if it has anything to do with that article that came out a few months ago about how ill-prepared the Islands are in case of a terrorist attack. Of course, I don't really think that St. Thomas is on the short list that the terrorists have, but I'm not in charge...

Well if I was a terrorist, and they gave me my choice, I'd head for the VIs!

Reminds me of the Vietnam bit on the first Cheech & Chong album - "Where the #@%$ is Charlie Company?"

"They're still on patrol Captain"

Ok, so am I understanding this right. To get to Jost from STJ, you will have to take the regular ferry to STT, and get on the ferry to Jost. Then coming back you will have to go to STJ for customs, then back to STT and then get on the regular ferry back to STJ? That is crazy. We were planning on a saturday trip to Jost and had planned on just getting off the ferry at STJ to hang out awhile before going back to STT. They are saying you can't get off the Jost ferry at St. John that you have to go back to STT first. Wow, that will be a big PITA!!

mrscaptainjay wrote:Ok, so am I understanding this right. To get to Jost from STJ, you will have to take the regular ferry to STT, and get on the ferry to Jost. Then coming back you will have to go to STJ for customs, then back to STT and then get on the regular ferry back to STJ? That is crazy. We were planning on a saturday trip to Jost and had planned on just getting off the ferry at STJ to hang out awhile before going back to STT. They are saying you can't get off the Jost ferry at St. John that you have to go back to STT first. Wow, that will be a big PITA!!

I read this as referring to day sails and does not impact the regular ferry service, which I think you're referencing.

I think it does impact interisland ferry service--at least that was how i read it.

[quote="promoguyI read this as referring to day sails and does not impact the regular ferry service, which I think you're referencing.[/quote]

I hope you're right. Is the Jost ferry a part of the "regular" ferry service? I think this issue also includes water taxis. Jay inferred that you would not be able to disembark at the customs dock period, so I thought that would include ferries returning from BVI. I hope it doesn't.

It did say it affected the Inter-Island ferry dock. Unless I read it incorrectly.

They're going to have to allow day trips from STJ. I'm not paying extra and taking extra time to go to STT to catch them...

Am I missing something? After reading the PDF of the letter received the Coast Guard lists 4 docks that CAN be used.

Are they (SOLAS boats) not allowed access to these docks? Is the issue that they would have to pay to use these docks?

On to the larger issue at hand...

I agree all of this crap is TOTAL BS. All it does is punish honest biz owners. Hell if the CG was doing their job we wouldn't have illegal immigrants being dropped off in Coral Bay with the regularity that they are.

It is nearly impossible to secure a small island like STJ and quite frankly I've never understood the logic of that stupid fence on the Cruz Bay dock. It's a waste of taxpayer money and a farce (to say the least). There's nothing like a fence to say "WELCOME!"

We've got major urban areas that need real funding to protect themselves and instead DHS is squandering the dollars on cities in Nebraska and this crap.

Occasionaly this kind of stupidity motivates me to write to my Congressman and Senators. It should motivate you too! Often they are so busy they have no clue that this kind of crap is going on and can step in with some common sense solutions. Hell, I'd be willing to bet that they would enjoy going on a fact finding mission to figure it all out... don't you?

That's a brilliant idea. There are lots of voters here, so maybe it would help if we all write to our representatives and tell them that we are frequent travelers to the Virgin Islands and we think this issue needs to be addressed.

Lulu76 wrote:That's a brilliant idea. There are lots of voters here, so maybe it would help if we all write to our representatives and tell them that we are frequent travelers to the Virgin Islands and we think this issue needs to be addressed.

You're kidding right......but I love your enthusiasm.