Slow down of Sonia scares passengers

PASSENGERS travelling to Port-of-Spain on the MV Sonia on Friday evening reportedly got a scare when the vessel suddenly slowed down considerably in the open sea a few hours after leaving Scarborough. A passenger told Sunday Newsday there was panic among passengers, as the vessel was far out at sea. He said there were concerns about how long the vessel would remain “broken-down, especially since they were in the open choppy waters.” He said after about half an hour, the vessel began moving again and the captain announced that “there was a minor technical problem.”

The passenger said the vessel sailed into the Port-of-Spain port “minutes to nine” instead of its scheduled 8 pm arrival time. He said it was “nonsense that a vessel which is supposed to be new and costing taxpayers so much, can break down a week into service.” However, Port Authority officials denied that the vessel, which is being wet leased for US$24,000 a day, had broken-down. Port Chairman Noel Garcia told Sunday Newsday he has been monitoring the vessel and had not received such information. After checking with Leon Grant, Executive Manager, GSS and Scarborough PATT, Garcia confirmed there was a 25-minute delay in the vessel’s arrival in Port-of-Spain because of a “computer glitch.”

He said the Sonia did not “stop at anytime” but “slowed down.”  He said the Sonia was “highly computerised” and because it is virtually new, the staff is still working the system. He said from time to time one would expect some glitches. “It had no impact on the safety of passengers and a 25 minute delay in a four and half hour trip is nothing.” Garcia said, adding that passengers should bear in mind that the vessel has been forced to slow down in the Bocas in the vicinity of Monos Island, because of the strong waves it has been creating. He said the Sonia left Port-of-Spain for Tobago on time yesterday and docked in Scarborough  shortly after 2 pm.