The highspeed luxury catamaran passenger ferry “Island Escape” was built by Kitsap Catamaran LCC in Seattle, Wa. in 2006 to very stringent USCG commercial passenger vessel standards at a finished cost of 3.8 million dollars (USD).

The ferry was constructed of the finest composite materials available at the time. The two Caterpillar C32 main engines produce a combined 3100 horsepower and were selected for their low carbon emissions. Propulsion is provided by two HM521 Hamilton waterjets. The vessel was also designed very wide at 36 feet for its length over all (LOA) to provide a more stable ride in rough sea conditions.

The ferry was delivered to its first home port of Long Beach, Ca. under the name “Marina Flyer” where it went into service to and from Catalina Island. In 2012 the owning company had financial difficulties and the ferry went up for sale. “Fast Cat Ferry Charters LLC” the parent company of Island Experience Tours Ltd. (which now operates the ferry in Antigua & Barbuda) bought the vessel shortly thereafter in association with the developer of the “Trump Ocean Club” in Panama City, Panama and renamed the “Island Escape”. The “Island Escape” operated from the “Trump Hotel & Residences” in downtown Panama City to and from the island of Viveros (42 miles away) where the ocean club is located very successfully as a private club membership vehicle until the property was sold in 2018.

In the fall of 2019 “Fast Cat Ferry Charters” approached by PLH Barbuda Ltd. to relocate the ferry to Antigua & Barbuda which we accepted. The “Island Escape” is presently based at “Barnacle Point” a beautiful property built by Alan Stanford originally as a luxury ferry terminal but it was never used. Enter the “Island Escape” It is NOW! Please come and visit.