M/V Fiesta Mail, Taylor Corp. vessel, mailboat for up to 450 passengers Nassau – Freeport – FLA, the largest in the fleet

by Eric Wiberg



M/V Fiesta Mail from starboard bow, western end of Potter’s Cay Dock, March, 2015, by author.

MAILBOAT NAME: M/V Fiesta Mail
PAST NAMES: not known
DIMENSIONS: 228′ long, 49.5′ wide, draft 11.5′, speed 12.5 knots, 2,485 gross registered tons, summer cargo capacity (DWT) 710 tons, IMO # 9266724, Ro/Ro & passenger ferry, flagged to Bahamas, capable of carrying 450 passengers, classed by ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)
CONSTRUCTION: steel
YEAR BUILT: 2002
BUILDER: Xinhe Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, Tianjin, China
EARLY CAREER: believed to be trading in Bahamas since it was launched, though verifying
BAHAMAS CAREER: Connecting Nassau with Freeport bi-weekly and Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale weekly. 
CAPTAIN: Capt. Limos Taylor
FATE: in operation
OWNERS: The MailBoat Company Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas, with offices in Arawak Cay, Potter’s Cay Dock, on Horse Shoe Drive and in Freeport (possibly were known at one point as “Fastmail” Nassau)
NOTES: The author very much anticipates meeting the owners of this dynamic company in end – April 2015 and will report more if/as learned, particularly about the M/V Jade which the founder, Captain Nathaniel Bruce Taylor purchased and plied in the Bahamas. 

For more information on the background of the company, see: 
http://mailboatbahamas.com/?option=content&cat_id=1&itemId=3.sf

M/V Fiesta Mail looking west in Nassau Harbour, March 2015, by author.
Their regular sailing schedule, per the website in April 2015, is;
  • Depart Nassau @ 2pm – Arrive in Freeport @ 11pm Monday night
  • Depart Freeport Tuesday @ 1am – Arrive in Nassau @ 10am Tuesday
  • Wednesday @ Port Everglades
  • Depart Nassau Thursday @ 5pm – Arrive in Freeport @ 2am Friday
  • Depart Freeport Fridy @ 7pm – Arrive in Nassau @ 7am Saturday