Praia, Cape Verde, 27 June – Two of three ferries ordered by Cape Verdeans resident in the United States to provide sea links between Cape Verde’s islands is due to be delivered at the end of 2009, according to Cape Verdean news agency Inforpress.
The agency added that the announcement was made this week by the promoters of the initiative after signing a protocol with Damen Shipyard in the presence of Minister of Infrastructure authorising the company to conduct a simulation test for safety and vessel operation in Cape Verde’s waters.
If the test is satisfactory, construction of the first two vessel will begin and be concluded within 12 months for operation in the south of the country, between the islands of Brava, Fogo, Santiago and Maio. 
The project Cabo Verde Fast Ferry, worth an estimated 20 million euros for phase 1, includes three ferries. One of the vessels will stay on Brava island, another on S. Vicente linking the windward islands and the third will remain in the city of Praia to link Sal and S. Nicolau.
The first ferries will have the capacity to carry 158 passengers, 16 small and 3 large trucks, with containers of 20 feet in length and is expected to travel between Brava and Fogo in 20 minutes and Brava to Praia in three hours.
