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Don’t plan to hop aboard Genting’s Bimini SuperFast ferry this weekend.
The 32,000-ton casino boat needs more overhead sprinklers before it can carry passengers to the Bahamanian island resort, where it recently opened a casino. It is unclear when the 1,500-passenger ship will meet those fire protection standards, said U.S. Coast Guard inspector Janet Espino-Young.
Originally slated for launch June 28, the ship delayed service after its back-up emergency power system failed to operate properly during safety inspections.
Those systems were slated for testing late Tuesday. Regardless of the outcome of that test, more sprinklers are required. “That means it will need more sprinkler installations, which is going to take time,” Espino-Young said.
In a statement, Dana Leibovitz, president of Resorts World Bimini, said, ”Resorts World considers the safety of the Bimini SuperFast’s passengers and crew our top priority. For this reason, we are working closely with the US Coast Guard to complete all outstanding safety checks prior to launching regular twice-a-day service between Miami and Bimini.’’
Bimini Superfast isn’t Malaysian gaming giant Genting’s first launch into South Florida seas. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has been based in Miami since the 1960s, was once owned by Genting, which still holds a large percentage of Norwegian’s stock. Genting’s chairman, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, is a member of Norwegian’s board. But the SuperFast ferry operators have not requested assistance from Norwegian, a cruise company spokesman said.
The SuperFast plans to offer two trips daily to Resorts World Bimini. For now, the bright red boat remains docked in terminal H in PortMiami.
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