Third ferry being sourced

Sinanan made the announcement in the Senate, a day after the Express was down for repaird which led to a disruption in service on the domestic seabridge.

Sinanan said the vessel being sought is an additional wave-piercing catamaran passenger vehicle/fast ferry, similar to the design, features and capacity of the Spirit and Express.

He said this vessel is being sourced on a short to medium term full charter basis.

In explaining the procurement process, Sinanan said advertisements will be carried in newspapers next week and, “Within two weeks we should have a vessel.” The Minister said on Sunday that a note will be going to Cabinet to give the Port Authority permission to source an additional passenger vessel.

Sinanan previously said the Spirit and Express have not been dry docked for some time, prior to the People’s National Movement (PNM) assuming office in September 2015. He indicated that one vessel will be drydocked in June while the other will be drydocked in September. “We are working on a timeline to get both vessels on dry dock,” Sinanan stated.

He said once dry docked, the Spirit and the Express will be thoroughly overhauled and rehabilitated.

The minister was confident that both ferries will be “restored to full functionality” and the third ferry will arrive before either vessel is drydocked. In addition, Sinanan said the water taxis will be used as and when needed to transport passengers to Tobago. He explained that when the water taxis were first purchased, under the former Patrick Manning-led administration, this was done knowing they could travel to and from Tobago in emergency cases.

The minister said the water taxi service would not be affected, as these vessels would be used on the weekend when the service is not active. Sinanan said he was unaware of claims by Opposition Senator Wade Mark that the “seabridge crisis” was damaging relations between Trinidad and Tobago. Asked if ferry passengers are being compensated for inconveniences they suffered when the ferries broke down, Sinanan said the Port Authority provided airbridge tickets to some passengers and in one case, even accommodated some passengers at a guest house when the could not return to Tobago. He said the latter occurred only once and the cost was nominal. These repairs are expected to be completed by May 28 and the Spirit will resume operations on May 29.

The TT Express will be the only ferry operating during the period, with the water taxis assisting it on May 28.

The Authority said in the absence of the Spirit, passengers will be accommodated on the respective day’s sailings.

People affected by these changes are not required to revalidate their travel tickets.