New damage to the ship "Kriola" leaves Ilha Brava isolated again, a chronic problem with no solution in sight
Nova Sintra City, November 6, 2025 (Bravanews) - Ilha Brava is once again facing its recurring ghost, maritime isolation. A statement from Cabo Verde Interilhas (CV Interilhas) today confirmed that the operation of the ship "Kriola" has been "temporarily conditioned for technical reasons", following a failure in one of the engines that prevented the scheduled trip between Santiago and Fogo from taking place. This new breakdown rekindles concerns about the fragility of the inter-island transport system and hits the population of Brava particularly hard, an island that doesn't have an airport and whose dependence on the sea is absolute.
The news of the cancellation, although CV Interilhas assures that passengers have been informed and have received "due assistance, with operational and logistical support", translates into huge losses and incalculable disruption on the ground.
Many passengers are stranded, with postponed appointments, missed medical appointments, and the rising cost of staying away from home.
The lack of a maritime connection interrupts the flow of goods. Local traders are already complaining of empty store shelves and stock-outs of essential goods. Fresh produce, in particular, is at risk of spoiling, aggravating the economic damage and affecting supplies to the island.
The "Kriola" situation is just the latest episode in a transport crisis that has been going on for years and has been denounced by the population, traders and mayors of Brava, who see the island continually penalized by the irregularity and insufficiency of the means of connection.
In its statement, CV Interilhas says that the engineering team is working on "identifying and resolving the fault, in order to restore the normal functioning of the ship and allow operations to resume in complete safety." The concessionaire reiterates its "commitment to safety and the continuity of maritime connections".
However, the repetition of these technical failures - with the "Kriola" and other ships in the fleet suffering successive breakdowns and requiring urgent replacements and repairs - undermines public confidence. The chronic irregularity has even led the government itself to acknowledge the difficulties, promising solutions to mitigate the impacts of the breakdowns that affect the most vulnerable islands.
The Bravense community feels abandoned. Maritime transport, a fundamental pillar for the island's development and survival, continues to be its main vulnerability. When the only ship available for the Fogo/Brava route fails, the isolation is immediate and total.
While the concessionaire promises to bring new information and refers to its customer service line (3500330) and social networks, the truth is that, for the Bravenses, the "old issue remains the same: no transportation and no solution." The wait for the "Kriola" to resume operation is now a wait for the island's social and economic life to be reactivated.
