The Cat has gone

The Cat was wet-leased from US company Bay Ferries Inc last December at a daily cost of US$23,800. Used with the MV Sonia (wet-leased at the same time from International Shipping Partners of Miami at a daily cost of US$24,000), The Cat had brought significant improvements to the efficiency of the Tobago seabridge.

The arrival of both vessels during the run-up to the January 17 Tobago House of Assembly elections was slammed by the ruling PNM’s opponents as election gimmicks. The PNM won those elections 11 to one.

The replacement —The Lynx — is expected to arrive from New Zealand on May 20, and begin operating on the seabridge from May 24. The Lynx can carry 800 passengers and 200 vehicles, and travel between Trinidad and Tobago in under two and a half hours. In the interim, Port Authority of TT officials said there would be additional sailings of the MV Sonia to cater for The Cat’s absence.

Former Works and Tansport Minister Franklin Khan said Government believed that a conventional ferry, a fast ferry and a cargo vessel provided the best formula for an efficient, domestic seabridge.

Tenders have already been issued for the acquisition of a cargo vessel and Khan previously indicated that Government hoped to be in a position by September (three months before the Sonia’s lease ends) to decide if it would keep a conventional ferry for the seabridge, or acquire a second fast ferry.

Plans are on the cards for the MV Beauport to be released from service and the MV Panorama to be sold once the right complement of vessels is in place for the seabridge.

Before Khan’s resignation last Sunday, he indicated that he planned to take a note to Cabinet outlining a new model for the Tobago airbridge, and there was a "robust plan" being simultaneously developed for the seabridge.