Ashley Ollivierre’s father was a seaman, so it came as no surprise when he decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps. The island was changing quickly and, realizing the growing need for transport between Bequia and the mainland, Ashley acquired a used vessel in 1991 to operate as a ferry. With hard work and determination he refitted the boat, and the Sand Island ferry was born.
I actually LIKED the Sand Island, high praise indeed from someone who dislikes crossing the channel as much as I do. It maneuvered through rough seas reasonably well, and they made the BEST breakfast sandwiches in the tiny galley! Knowing I liked the sandwiches, Ashley always advised me as I boarded whether to order one or not; he knew that if the sea was rough ordering food (at least in my case!) would be a bad idea, and I appreciated his thoughtfulness.
Ashley’s Sand Island paved the way to success. By 1993 he was able to obtain a much larger vessel from Norway, and the rest is history. The Bequia Express quickly became Bequia Express 1 when number 2 arrived on the scene, followed by numbers 3, 4 and then 5. At present there are five ships in Ashley’s fleet, quite an accomplishment to say the least!
The Bequia Express Company offers several departures to the mainland each day, meaning people no longer have to catch a 6:30 ferry. I like taking the less-crowded boat at 8:30, it gives me ample time to shop and then catch the 1:00 Express back to Bequia. ! always sit in the air-conditioned lounge downstairs where the boat’s motion is felt the least, allowing me to arrive at Kingstown an hour later with my stomach intact! The Express ferries are clean, comfortable and well maintained, and the crews on each boat are polite and professional. Safe, efficient and reliable, these ships are a pleasure to sail with.
Nik and I visited Iceland in 2022, and watched a ferry approaching the terminal with awe. It moved across the water silently because it was electric, gliding up beside its docking station to be recharged. Iceland utilizes its geothermal energy in many innovative ways, and the impressive electric ferry with zero emissions is one of them. Ashley’s son Jason recently arrived with yet another Norwegian-built ship, and I was extremely impressed to learn that he and his crew had sailed it all the way from Iceland to Bequia! The vessel had been working as one of Iceland’s ferries until it was replaced by that same electric ferry Nik and I had admired. This recent addition to Ashley’s fleet is almost ready to be put into service, and will be known as Bequia Express 3.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Ollivierre
I doubt I’ll ever witness electric ferries crossing the Bequia channel, especially with the cost of electricity here! There’s always the future though – you never know what lies ahead!
