Senate hearing questions HMS ferry contract, costs and maintenance plan for Vieques and Culebra service

A Senate committee on May 27, 2021 reviewed the public‑private contract to operate ferry service to Vieques and Culebra, pressing government officials about costs, maintenance obligations and short‑term vessel rentals HMS Fénix arranged while ATM’s fleet is repaired.

The presiding Senator (unnamed) opened the hearing on Senate Resolution No. 31 and repeatedly asked agency officials for hard numbers and document timelines. The senator told the hearing that an earlier procurement set a guarantee requirement of roughly "$5 million" that, he said, prevented many companies from bidding. He also cited an agency figure of "Trescientos veinte mil dólares mensuales" (about $320,000 per month) for two chartered vessels and said that amount implies roughly $3.8 million a year for those assets.

Secretary (unnamed) and legal advisers described how the HMS contract divides responsibilities. The secretary said HMS is responsible for operations, equipment and ordinary and extraordinary repairs during the contract’s phase two (a 20‑year operational term), and that the contract sets a fuel base of "$3.50 per gallon" with HMS absorbing increases up to 10 percent; larger increases…