Where is The Lynx?

While the fast-ferry catamaran, The Cat, is returning to Canada for summer operations on its prior route between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and Bar Harbour, Maine, USA, there is a question as to where The Lynx actually is, and how soon it will arrive in Trinidad.

In a paid press advertisement on May 6 titled "Goodbye Cat, Welcome Lynx", the Port Authority merely said The Lynx will start service in Trinidad "soon." It did not name a date, although the advertisement included a statement in bright red "A web-enabled ticketing system to be introduced July 2005."

However, Brittany Ferries on its web-site has repeatedly stated that it has contracted The Lynx, which it refers to as "The Normandie Express", to operate between England and France until November.

"The new vessel, Normandie Express, with capacity for 900 passengers and 280 cars, will operate from mid-March until mid-November with crossing times of only 180 minutes to Cherbourg and 225 minutes to Caen."

The point is repeated by the Australian-based, online Incat News on January 24, 2005 in a story, "Brittany Ferries’ Incat Built Vessel ‘Normandie Express’ Delivers Aid to Indonesia". It said: "The ship will operate from mid-March until mid-November." Incat News repeated the point April, 2005 in a story, "Big Cat Takes Charge".

But these concerns were denied by Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago general manager, Leon Grant. He said The Lynx would be in service between Tobago and Trinidad by the end of this month.

"The information I have is that The Lynx will be here next Friday, May 20. It should go into service two to three days later."

He said it had been operating in New Zealand and then had just done its mandatory dry-docking in Newcastle, Australia. "It’s on its way. It’s in Tahiti. It will then go to Panama and then to Trinidad and Tobago. That’s the last bulletin I got."