As the M V Gem Star 2 motored into the Kingstown harbour Thursday morning, its safe arrival was greeted by expressions of relief and joy from Vincentians in general, particularly those resident in the Southern Grenadines.

The vessel, owned and operated by Gussie deRoche and family replaces the M V Gem Star which was gutted by fire three months ago between April 8 and 9, 2019.

The M V Gem Star 2 left Tenerife Spain on June 30, and covered the 4,900 km distance to Port Kingstown in just over 10 days. The vessel, which operates under the call sign J8B5876, has a length/beam of 56/12 meters and a gross tonnage of 1117. Built in 1977, it has an average speed of 9.9 knots and a maximum speed of 16.6 knots.

It has not yet been announced when the vessel with resume its schedule to and from the Southern Grenadines.

On Monday April 8, a fire broke out in the lower levels of the Gem Star which was anchored at the Grenadines Wharf in Kingstown. The burning boat was towed to the waters off the reclamation site on Tuesday, April 9, after persons, including members of the local fire service fought unsuccessfully for hours to put out the blaze which eventually burnt itself out.

The destruction of the Gem Star significantly impacted movement of people and cargo to and from the Southern Grenadines. The MV Bequia Express III which normally travels between Bequia and Kingstown assisted with the Southern Grenadines route since then.