Ministry of Transport personnel say that use of the new fast ferries on the Rockaway service is climbing despite a recent survey which revealed that residents do not anticipate their personal use of ferries to increase due to the new vessels.

Ministry of Transport's transportation programme coordinator, Larry Jacobs said that the service, which caters to the commuter market, has transported 20,000 passengers since it began in April. The number of passengers has increased steadily, with 929 passengers using the service during the week of April 2, 1964 passengers using it from June 24 through 27, and 2160 passengers using the service from July 1 through 5.

Mr. Jacobs noted that the "ridership" has more than doubled although the department had expected a drop during the summer because schools would be out.

However, the Bermuda Omnibus survey released on Tuesday indicated that residents do not anticipate their ferry use to increase as a result of the new fast ferries.

The survey produced by Total Marketing and Communications and its Canadian affiliate Corporate Research Associates revealed that 71 percent of residents anticipated no change in their personal use of the ferry system.

However, 64 percent of the 402 residents surveyed expected that ferry use would increase due to the new fast ferries.

When asked how many of the passengers on the fast ferries were locals, Mr. Jacobs said that would be "almost impossible" to determine, but he said that even when the fast ferries are used for routes other than the commuter service - the Hamilton to Dockyard and Dockyard to St. George's routes - a portion of those are residents.