Red tape and the terror attack in New York have combined to push back the arrival of the new fast ferries until next year.

The first of the $2.5 million catamarans was supposed to arrive at the end of December but it is now due to come in March.

Massachusetts shipbuilders Gladding-Hearn were asked by New York ferry operators to speed up building of a new ferry to help them cope with a flood of new passengers unable to use roads and tunnels closed after the September 11 suicide attack on the World Trade Center.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said: "In order to fulfil this request, work crews had to be redeployed from our ferry boat, resulting in the delay in completion.

"Thus we are assisting New York City in dealing with this tragedy. The entire transportation industry in the United States has been hit by the disaster."

Dr. Brown said delay had also been caused by rigid building requirements from Lloyds Register of Shipping who control construction standards for Bermuda's boats.

He said: "This is the first time that Gladding-Hearn and Lloyds have teamed up, and the various approval certifications for such things as fire-retarding treatment for seat materials has also contributed to the delay."

Dr. Brown said the delay of the boat was understandable and a minor inconvenience compared to the task facing New York as it returned to normal.

The second boat is now set to arrive shortly after the first in March while the two others are set to arrive in 2003 as per schedule.

Dr. Brown said infrastructure work on the Rockaway ferry stop, the Hamilton Ferry terminal and depots in the capital and Dockyard were all running on time.

Gladding-Hearn president John Duclos attended yesterday's press conference with Dr. Brown and transport officials to apologise for the inconvenience.

He said the new ferries, powered by low-emission diesel engines, would meet new 2004 environmental standards.

He said the catamaran design allowed fuel consumption to be cut as the vessel was gliding on water rather than ploughing through it.