Number: D039/2021
Date: 19 November 2021
Relevant: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Topic: Ferry Timetable Cahaya Baru
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications is pleased to advise the community and visitors on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands of the completion of mandatory vessel safety checks on the Cahaya Baru and the return to regular ferry services from 22 November.
The five-yearly Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) safety and compliance works to the Cahaya Baru are now complete, including on-water trials, following its return to the water by the MV Borkum this week.
The attached timetable PDF: 143 KB will now be reinstated, allowing for night services on Wednesdays and Fridays and the return of Direction Island services on Thursdays and Saturdays. This is no doubt a welcome development and we look forward to seeing the community, businesses and tourists utilise these services again.
I would like to pass on my thanks for your patience and support during this period of reduced services by the RJ Hawke. It was also good to see local tourism operators continuing to provide opportunities for visitors to experience what Cocos has to offer as an alternative.
I would also like to take this opportunity to pass on my sincere appreciation to the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society for providing the interim ferry services with the RJ Hawke and to LINX Stevedoring for their specialised work to ensure the ferry remains in service for years to come.
Mr Aaron O’Neill, Assistant Secretary, Indian Ocean Territories Branch