Docking restrictions on St. Croix-based cargo carrier Water Spirit Freight have prompted Congresswoman Plaskett to engage the Coast Guard and Puerto Rico Ports Authority — warning that the disruption is a supply chain issue with real consequences for Virgin Islanders.
Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett is pushing federal authorities to resolve docking restrictions placed on Water Spirit Freight Services V.I., Inc., a St. Croix-based cargo carrier that has kept goods moving between the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the broader Caribbean for more than 20 years. The restrictions, imposed by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, have raised immediate concerns about the territory’s ability to maintain reliable freight service — something Virgin Islanders know all too well is never something to take for granted.
Plaskett’s office has been in direct contact with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, while also reaching out to Water Spirit itself to help map a path forward. The Virgin Islands Port Authority has also been looped in as part of the congresswoman’s push to make sure the territory has a seat at the table while federal and regional authorities work toward a fix.
“Virgin Islanders depend on reliable cargo service — this is not an abstract maritime matter, it is a supply chain issue that affects real people and real businesses in our territory,” Plaskett said. The statement carries particular weight for residents of St. Croix, which relies heavily on inter-island freight for everything from building materials to everyday goods.
With Water Spirit serving routes between St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and San Juan, any prolonged disruption stands to ripple quickly through local businesses and household budgets alike. Plaskett’s office says it will continue monitoring developments and pressing for a resolution that keeps the flow of goods to and from the territory uninterrupted.
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