Indications of fire aboard Samantha II raise questions about Ferry Safety
ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – The engine failure aboard the passenger ferry Samantha II on Monday evening, October 19, may have been considerably more serious than initially reported. Several individuals involved in assisting the vessel have told BES-Reporter that they observed clear indications of fire and smoke damage aboard the ferry. However, no mention of a fire was made in the official statement issued by the Public Entity St. Eustatius.
The Samantha II was travelling from St. Kitts to St. Eustatius when it lost engine power and its electrical supply. The vessel was subsequently towed to St. Eustatius by the tugboat KTB Responder 2, assisted by the vessels Nora and MV Robby, as well as Harbour Patrol. All persons aboard were reported safe.
Despite the indications of fire damage, BES-Reporter has confirmed that the vessel’s crew did not report a fire to the harbourmaster of St. Eustatius upon arrival. Other local authorities were reportedly not informed of any fire either. Several people involved in providing assistance reported observing signs of smoke and fire damage, while soot was reportedly also visible aboard the vessel on Tuesday morning.
The Samantha II sails under the flag of Sint Maarten. It remains unclear whether the fire was reported to the maritime authorities in Sint Maarten, which are responsible for overseeing vessels registered under its flag.
A well-informed source told BES-Reporter on Tuesday afternoon that the damage to Samantha II is substantial and that there is virtually no possibility of the ferry returning to service in the near future. The vessel is expected to be towed to Sint Maarten, where extensive repairs will reportedly be necessary. The exact extent of the damage has not yet been independently established.
Concerns about safety
The incident has also renewed concerns about the technical condition of the vessel. BES-Reporter has received information suggesting that questions about Samantha II’s seaworthiness had already been raised before Monday’s incident. These concerns have not yet been independently verified, but several residents of St. Eustatius have expressed growing unease about travelling aboard the regional ferries.
Samantha II is currently being used as a replacement for the Makana ferry, which is undergoing repairs and improvements. The regional ferry service between Sint Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Kitts is operated by Anguilla-based Blues & Blues Ltd. The registered owner of Samantha II has not yet been established.
The ferry service receives financial support from the Dutch government. In March 2026, the governments of St. Eustatius and Saba signed a new Public Service Obligation (PSO) agreement with the operator, intended to maintain affordable and reliable ferry connections between the islands. The Dutch government has allocated €1.5 million for 2026 and 2027 to continue and increase its financial support for the service.
Oversight
The involvement of public funding also raises questions about the oversight of the vessels used under the agreement, particularly regarding their technical condition and the reporting of serious incidents.
For now, it remains unclear what caused the reported fire, whether it was responsible for the loss of engine power and electricity, and whether the incident has been reported to the competent maritime authorities. The Public Entity St. Eustatius has so far publicly referred only to engine failure and a loss of electrical power, without mentioning any fire aboard the vessel.
