Port starts maritime safety training

President general of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) Michael Annisette told Newsday yesterday, "We had suggested to PATT that they should train security personnel in maritime safety and vessel safety. And those officers should be used on board the vessel in order to keep the safety measures."

Annisette was responding to questions about a lack of ship stewards on the seabridge ferries. He said stewards are not on board the ferries to keep order. He noted that there are only two security officers on board the Sonia who were hired by a private security firm. "We believe that the training and the amount of safety provided by the private security firm are inadequate. They are not properly trained in terms of what is required to work aboard a fast ferry or a passenger vessel and as such we have spoken to the PATT chairman about that and I am advised that the recommendations of the union are now being acted upon," said Annisette.

Selection of personnel for security training, specifically to operate on a fast ferry and a passenger ferry, is now taking place.

When asked about safety on the Sonia, Annisette said since December 2004, when the Sonia began operating the Trinidad to Tobago route, the vessel had been sailing without untoward any incidents.

"I find it ironic that people will be talking about safety. Unfortunately the evidence that we have coming out from our investigation is that there was some mishap and disagreement arising out of a card game that would have resulted in that unfortunate incident. So it has nothing to do with the vessel being unsafe or its safety," Annisette said. He said it is almost impossible for a passenger to fall overboard due to the vessel’s configuration, unless the passenger is pushed or the passenger is playing the fool. He said the vessel is designed with health and safety in mind, and that goes for all the inter-island ferries.

"The SWWTU represents the seafarers on that vessel, and we are the watchdogs in terms of health and safety on those vessels and I would give you the assurance that safety measures are in place in keeping with the international rules and regulations," Annisette said.