All Rescued After Ferry Sinks Off St
All 47 people aboard the inter-island ferry Apple Syder were rescued after the vessel began taking on water on the morning of June 29, 2026, authorities and passengers said. A fast response by the St Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard, local fishermen and other vessels, aided by passengers putting on life jackets, prevented any loss of life.
A potentially catastrophic maritime disaster was averted on Monday morning, June 29, 2026, when the inter-island passenger ferry Apple Syder began taking on water while crossing The Narrows between St Kitts and Nevis and ultimately sank, officials and passengers said. All 47 passengers and crew aboard were rescued and there were no reported injuries or deaths, according to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) and local reports.
Hewlett, a 6th Form College Art & Design teacher who lives in St Kitts and works in Nevis, told VINO he left home at 6:20 AM to catch the 9:00 AM boat. He said the ferry was carrying both passengers and cargo, including boxes of bananas. Hewlett recounted that shortly after departure, around 9:20 AM, there were loud noises like the vessel had hit a rock or scraped the bottom.
He said the captain tried to turn back but within a minute water was up to passengers' shins and everyone put on life vests. Hewlett described the ordeal as traumatising and said some passengers lost luggage while others helped throw cargo overboard to lighten the boat. Eyewitnesses and video footage circulating on social media showed passengers wearing life jackets and floating alongside the partly submerged ferry as rescue teams arrived.
The St Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard responded immediately after an SOS call, and several local fishermen diverted their vessels to assist in evacuating people from the stricken ferry. Vessels including the Markana were credited with aiding the successful rescue, according to VINO and local sources.
Prime Minister Terrance Drew told reporters he had just left the hospital after receiving an update that everyone from the Apple Syder was safe. He thanked the Coast Guard, emergency responders, healthcare workers and civilians for their swift action. Opposition Leader Mark Brantley also confirmed his office had received confirmation that all passengers and crew survived, reported Guavaberry.
Authorities later towed the damaged vessel back toward shore while investigators began examining what caused the Apple Syder to take on water. Officials have not yet released a definitive cause; a formal investigation is now underway and further details are expected as investigators examine the vessel and interview crew and passengers.
Separately, VINO reported that eight Antiguan nationals were rescued in a related maritime incident on Monday morning after their boat began sinking approximately 19 miles off Antigua. Owner Eli Fuller of Adventure Antigua, with support from the Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue (ABSAR) team and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Coast Guard, recovered the distressed passengers and returned them safely to Antigua.
Monday’s rescue of the Apple Syder drew immediate comparisons to the MV Christena disaster of August 1, 1970, when a ferry capsized in The Narrows with heavy loss of life. That tragedy, which claimed 233 lives, remains a defining maritime calamity in the region. Residents and officials said the successful rescue this week stands in stark contrast and will likely prompt renewed scrutiny of vessel maintenance, passenger limits and emergency preparedness across the Eastern Caribbean, including in the British Virgin Islands.
For now, authorities and the public have praised the coordination between the Coast Guard, civilian mariners and healthcare staff for preventing loss of life. Officials said they will release further details when available as the investigation proceeds.
Primary source: Guavaberry