ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC—Antigua and Barbuda have been included in a Guadeloupe-led KARULINK project to establish a fossil fuel-free ferry network in the Eastern Caribbean.
The project will also include St Kitts-Nevis and Dominica, and a team from the French Caribbean island visited Antigua and Barbuda to assess the feasibility of a green-energy-powered ferry service under the European Union-funded INTERREG Caribbean KARULINK project.
Led by Guadeloupe’s private transport company STEPS, the initiative aims to connect Antigua, Dominica, and St Kitts to Guadeloupe with an eco-friendly ferry network by 2027. The Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) facilitated the visit, and the delegation met with several key stakeholders, including the Port Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, to discuss logistics.
They have identified suitable harbors for the pilot phase in 2026.
ABCC director Martin Cave, who supports the project, spoke of its potential to boost regional trade and align with international maritime regulations.
Officials say that if the project proves viable and profitable, national governments will decide how to sustain the service long term. They note that the broader vision of the KARULINK project is to develop a comprehensive strategy for opening new maritime routes using environmentally friendly solutions.
The officials added that the ferry network will leverage smaller ports around Guadeloupe to facilitate seamless and sustainable inter-island travel.
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