Smoke rising from the Makana ferry as it approached Saba’s Fort Bay harbor this morning sparked momentary alarm among passengers and onlookers, though officials confirmed the vessel was never in danger and completed its scheduled voyage without incident. this morning sparked momentary alarm among passengers and onlookers, though officials confirmed the vessel was never in danger and completed its scheduled voyage without incident.
Public Entity Saba said in a statement that it was “aware of concerns following the arrival of the Makana ferry this morning, during which smoke was visible as the vessel approached Fort Bay Harbor.” According to the statement, the smoke stemmed from a mechanical issue involving the vessel’s turbo and was not caused by fire.
Following an inspection at the harbor, passengers were permitted to reboard for the ferry’s scheduled departure, while those who chose not to continue their journey received refunds, the entity said. Officials acknowledged that the sight of smoke had understandably unsettled onlookers, saying they appreciated “the public’s patience and understanding.”
Makana Ferry Service, in its own statement, confirmed the vessel “experienced a technical issue today involving one of the vessel’s turbochargers,” but stressed that “the vessel did not catch fire.” The company said its crew safely managed the situation and that all relevant authorities were immediately informed, allowing the ferry to continue its scheduled voyage without further incident.
As a precaution, the operator said its backup vessel, M/V Samantha II, will handle scheduled services while repairs are carried out on Makana. No timeline was given for when the ferry would return to service.
The company praised the professionalism of its captain and crew in handling the situation and apologized to passengers for any inconvenience caused. “We look forward to returning Makana to service as soon as possible,” the company said in its statement.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. The ferry is a key transportation link for residents and visitors traveling between islands in the northeastern Caribbean, and officials indicated the matter had been resolved without lasting impact on operations beyond the temporary vessel swap.