Mid-April start for Kangaroo Island ferry

Dredging work begins this week at Australia’s Cape Jervis port to pave the way for the Kangaroo Island Connect (KIC) ferry James Cowell to start operations.

The Islander Online reports the KIC ferry service should begin by mid-April now that dredging of the port and boat ramp area has been approved.

KIC Managing Director David Harris said the plan was for James Cowell to operate a twice-daily winter service between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw, using the existing boarding facilities at Cape Jervis, from April 16.

The 25-metre, high-speed catamaran is capable of delivering 95 passengers to Penneshaw from Cape Jervis in 30 minutes.

The vessel includes a small first-class cabin on the fly bridge in the wheelhouse with the captain, a kids play area in the port hull, a quiet area in the starboard hull, and a main cabin.