Bermuda’s original fast ferries are receiving new equipment, the transport ministry said last week.

A spokeswoman said at the time that Serenity and Resolute were being fitted with replacement radar navigation screens.

She stated that there were no mechanical issues causing the ferries to be out of service.

The Department of Marine & Ports purchased the vessels in 2002 and two other fast ferries, Venturilla and Tempest, arrived on the island two years later.

The original Warbaby Fox and JL Cecil Smith came into service in 2006 and 2007 respectively and were replaced with new 39-metre vessels of the same names last year.

The new boats were built by Strategic Marine in Singapore and were christened in November.

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, said at the time that the old JL Cecil Smith and Warbaby Fox would be sold to an overseas broker.

The spokeswoman said last week that the sales process is continuing and Marine & Ports is reviewing all submitted offers.

She said: “In the interim, both [old] vessels must continue to be properly maintained and operated to ensure they remain in class and in a saleable condition.”

The spokeswoman said yesterday that Resolute is back in service and Serenity is still being fitted with a new radar screen, and confirmed last week that Venturilla and Tempest were sold in September 2024.

The Government said in 2020 that these two ferries and two tugboats were not for sale, despite being advertised for a combined $1.9 million on a marine broker’s website.

The Royal Gazette sent further queries about who Venturilla and Tempest were sold to and for how much, but did not receive a response.