‘Warrior Spirit’ for Tobago

At an April 27 post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert said Government had leased a cargo vessel named the Malta Express for the domestic seabridge.

In a statement Wednesday, the Ministry of Works and Transport said the Malta Express had arrived safely in TT and had been renamed Warrior Spirit. The vessel begins operation today and has been leased by Government for a two-year period at a cost of US$14,000 per day. The ministry added that it was noteworthy that the lease cost of the Warrior Spirit is “significantly less” than that of the conventional ferry MV Sonia (which previously operated on the seabridge).

The ministry also said the capacity of Warrior Spirit exceeds the combined space of the Sonia and the MV Panorama. Warrior Spirit is a purpose-built cargo vessel with three decks, capable of carrying 126 loaded trucks or 390 cars as well as 30 reefer containers. The Sonia’s cargo capacity included 40 trucks or 136 cars.

The Warrior Spirit is also capable of carrying flatbeds and trailers, bulk cargo and hazardous cargo. The vessel has cabins for 133 passengers or truck drivers to allow overnight journeys and is fitted with stabilisers.

The Warrior Spirit is expected to make the trip between Scarborough and Port-of-Spain in six hours. The ministry expressed confidence that Warrior Spirit will enhance the capability and capacity of the Government Shipping Service and should bring “substantial benefits to the residents of Tobago in particular.”

Imbert said the Panorama would be dry-docked for a month once the Warrior Spirit arrived and Government would make a decision on the Panorama’s future.