Cuban authorities have intensified dredging operations at the Surgidero de Batabanó in order to restore passenger transportation to Isla de la Juventud, a vital route for the residents of the island region.
The accumulation of sediments in the access channel, caused by Hurricane Rafael and the natural erosion of materials in the area, has created serious difficulties for the docking of the vessel Perseverancia, which is currently the only one operating for trips between Batabanó and Nueva Gerona, explained the Minister of Transportation on Facebook, Eduardo Rodríguez Ávila.
This ministry and several Cuban institutions have collaborated to expedite the dredging of the port that began on November 14. According to statements by Rodríguez Dávila, the process includes sending a specialized dredger from La Coloma to ensure the necessary depth in the channel and to guarantee the regular operation of the ferry.
Prevous studies conducted by the company Geocuba have allowed for the identification of the most affected areas and the formulation of an action plan that is being implemented with utmost urgency, he noted.
The ferry Perseverancia, which usually operates trips between Batabanó and the Isle of Youth, was unable to dock conventionally this week due to sediment buildup, prompting authorities to create a special operations plan for transfers.
Although an attempt was initially made for a direct transfer between the ferry and a tourist boat, adverse weather conditions, particularly the wind, prevented the operation from being carried out safely.
Despite the setbacks, the crews of the ferry and the tugboat Polar 11 successfully docked the Perseverancia in Batabanó on November 19. On this trip, 62 people in need of medical attention, 15 vulnerable individuals, and several passengers with pending trips since the beginning of the month, which had been suspended due to bad weather and difficulties at the port, were transported.
According to the official, the dredging process is crucial not only for restoring passenger transport but also for ensuring the flow of goods to the Isle of Youth, particularly food and other essential products.
The dredging work and channel measurements are being carried out with the involvement of several entities, including Geocuba, GEMAR, and SERMAR. It is expected that specialized equipment will be used to deepen the channel sufficiently to allow the ferry to operate smoothly in the near future.
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