The ferry service to St George’s has been improved with a more consistent schedule and more runs in August.

Local MPs have also mentioned the possibility of offering a daily service, although no commitments have been made.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, announced “a dependable and regular” service to the historic town in a press conference at Hunter’s Wharf in St George’s yesterday morning.

In the updated schedule, holes in the service for the Dockyard-St George’s run — the Orange Route — have been filled during the month of August.

Ferries have been operating since June between the two locations on Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays. On five of those days in August, no service was to be offered.

In the updated schedule, the boats will be operating every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in August with no gaps in service.

On each of days in which the boats will be running, four trips will be offered in each direction, with the first leaving Dockyard at 9.45am.

In addition, service on the Orange Route will be offered on July 15, August 12 and October 26, days in which cruise ships are in town.

St George’s is popular with cruise ship visitors, but it is far from Dockyard, where the ships normally berth. Without the direct ferry service, getting there requires a long and expensive taxi ride or two bus rides.

The minister said that he “personally will be visiting the Hamilton Princesses and other areas in town to ensure them and also encourage them to ride the ferry from Hamilton up to Dockyard and also take a ride to St George’s

“I’ve heard Bermuda say, ‘It’s too long to drive to St George’s or Dockyard’, now’s your opportunity to put the car aside and ride the ferry. Make a day of it, park your car, ride the ferry, and cool out in St George’s”

Mr Furbert said the ministry would assess whether this new summer schedule would be maintained or further expanded in the next budget year.

St George’s West MP Kim Swan extolled the month-long expansion’s commuter value, and hoped that a daily service would be added

“I believe that the opportunity is presenting itself here in St George’s thanks to the minister providing this commuter service, albeit three days a week.

“Get more ridership and it will make it very difficult for the minister not to put on this service daily and throughout to alleviate the pressure on the roads”

Quinell Francis, the Mayor of St George’s, said of the new schedule: “I know St George will be better for it and I encourage you all to use the ferry to ensure that it doesn’t get taken away again.”

Mr Furbert said that the ministry was also reviewing if it could make the ferry available for the Friday of Cup Match.

• For the updated schedule, visit www.marineandports.bm