A lot of blog readers have emailed to ask how the Green Turtle Cay Ferries fared during Dorian.

The Green Turtle Cay Ferry fleet, before Hurricane Dorian

Prior to the storm, GTC Ferries had four vessels in operation: Bolo, Bolo II, Bolo III and Bolo IV.

With Dorian churning toward the island, the ferry company hauled Bolo and Bolo IV from the water and secured them on the hard at the boat yard. They tied up Bolo III in Black Sound and moored Bolo II deep in nearby Munjack Creek.

GTC ferries secured for Hurricane Dorian. Top left: Bolo III in Black Sound. Top right: Bolo II in Munjack Creek. Bottom: Bolo and Bolo IV at the boat yard. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Lowe )

Once Dorian had passed and the ferry folks were able to move around the island, they discovered that — like many other vessels on the cay — Bolo and Bolo IV had sustained significant damage.

Bolo and Bolo IV, post Dorian ( Photo courtesy of Nicole Lowe)

Bolo II, thankfully, was in relatively good shape. But Bolo III? She was just gone, apparently carried off by Dorian. Where to? Nobody knew.

After Hurricane Dorian, Bolo III (seen here before the storm) had vanished from Black Sound

And then, a few days later, someone bringing in relief supplies spotted Bolo III near Umbrella Cay – 31 miles northwest of Green Turtle!

Bolo III (Photo courtesy of Nicole Lowe)

The ferry folks towed Bolo III into shallow water, and recently, at the urging of Captain Troy Lowe’s son Christopher, a team – including Troy, Christopher, Captain Josh Pinder, Jason Lowe, Daniel Albury, Leia Lowe, Hannah Lowe and Danny Albury – went back out, determined to float and salvage her.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Lowe

It wasn’t an easy job, but you should know by now, Abaconians are a hardy and determined lot.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Lowe

By day’s end, Bolo III was afloat once more, and on her way home.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Lowe

Troy says that the fiberglass repairs to Bolo are being done this week, and then they’ll tackle windows and electrical. The plan is to have her back in service by year end. Bolo IV, which suffered more damage, will take longer.

And though it will be quite some time before Bolo III is ready to get back into service, she’s at least back at home where she belongs.

Success! Bolo III is back at Green Turtle Cay (Photo courtesy of Nicole Lowe)

In the meantime, Bolo II continues serving Green Turtle Cay on the following modified schedule:

From GTC to the Treasure Cay Ferry Dock: 6:30am (Mon-Fri, from town only), 7:30am (except Sundays), 8am, 10am, 12:45pm, 3pm and 4:30pm.

From the Treasure Cay Ferry Dock to GTC: 7:10am (Mon-Fri), 7:45am (except Sundays), 8:30am, 10:30am, 1pm, 3:30pm and 5pm.

The sole Green Turtle Cay ferry currently in operation, Bolo II, arrives at the main ferry dock in town.

To learn more about how you can help Bahamian victims of Hurricane Dorian, click HERE.

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