floating docks to operate as planned.

And requests for proposals are set to be offered this week for the new high speed ferries, Transport Minister Ewart Brown said.

Dr. Brown and Marine and Ports board chairman Walter Roban saw prototypes of the proposed ferries in Boston earlier this year.

The ferries feature front loading ride on/ride off ramps making it easier to board people and cycles.

Dr. Brown said the preferred type of dock is a floating dock, which will require rebuilding of the Island's ten ferry docks and terminals.

"It's almost a joint mission with those fantastic people at Works and Engineering,'' Dr. Brown said. "It will be their responsibility to get the docks ready and see that it's money well spent.'' "They have to be floating docks in order to allow seamless entry onto and off the boats,'' he said.

While Dr. Brown could not give a cost of the total ferry project, the two new ferries will cost about $2.5 million each and each dock will be upgraded by the time the ferries arrive.

And last week's schedule change for the Hamilton-Dockyard ferry was also a part of the new ferry plan.

The last evening ferry on the Hamilton to Dockyard and other Sandys Parish stops now leaves Hamilton at 5.30 p.m.

Passenger comments in the past said the old departure time of 5.20 p.m. was too soon after the end of most work days, causing many a missed ride.

"We think that the change is something supported by employers and employees,'' Dr. Brown said. "They can finish off their work and give them time to reach the ferry.

"The schedule change is the first initiative to make the ferry system more passenger friendly,'' Dr. Brown added. "It's a concrete step toward improvement.

"The next stage is we will be looking into having later ferries, especially on weekends.'' A passenger survey was recently completed and the results are expected to be made public in the next few weeks, he said.

"That will allow us to customise the schedule and the ferries,'' Dr. Brown explained. "The ferries should serve the public and the public should not operate around the ferries.''