MV Sonia breaks down

Two weeks after being introduced on the inter-island service, the MV Sonia reportedly “broke down” yesterday causing confusion and anger among passengers who were unaware of the change in sailing times to Tobago. The Sonia was supposed to sail at 9 am yesterday from Port-of-Spain to Scarborough and at 11 pm from Scarborough to PoS. The Fast Ferry (The Cat) was scheduled to leave PoS at 4 pm yesterday and return from Scarborough at 7 am today. Times were changed after the Sonia was taken out of service.

The reason for the change was not explained to the scores of passengers who went to the Cruise Ship Complex in anticipation of a trip aboard the latest addition to the inter-island service. The news among scores of passengers at the PoS terminal was that the Sonia had “broken down.” Before 9 am passengers for the Sonia arrived at the Cruise Ship Complex expecting to board the Sonia but instead the security guard at the Complex directed them to the terminal to board the Panorama. When Sunday Newsday contacted the port, a worker of the Government Shipping Service said the Sonia was scheduled to sail but it was removed from service to allow for “mandatory layover.” Asked what this meant she said workers will “go over the entire boat.” She said this will also be done for The Cat. (A layover or stayover at port can occur for maintenance, resupply or due to hazardous weather reports).

The worker could not say if a public notice had alerted passengers of the situation but admitted that she too was “under the impression” that the Sonia was sailing at 9 am. She said other arrangements were made to accommodate passengers on the Panorama at 4 pm. She said the Sonia would be sailing today “as usual.” Meanwhile, at the terminal passengers were telling a different story. One passenger who had a ticket for The Cat said he heard “passengers on the Sonia went on The Cat and The Cat passengers are going on the Panorama.” The change in vessels was not well received. “I pay for The Cat. I want The Cat,” he declared. Another passenger who thought she and her friend were going on The Cat at 4 pm wondered aloud what was going on.

A Tobagonian who came to Trinidad for a meeting yesterday morning and had plans of being on the return trip aboard The Cat at 4 pm had asked his wife to meet him at Scarborough at 6.30 pm. He also wanted to know why the Panorama was being used. “The Panorama is off the run, why force it on people?” No official announcement was made explaining to the passengers what was happening. A worker at the terminal said passengers who wanted to go on the Panorama were free to do so. However, she said any ticket changes would have to be done today. No port official was available for comment yesterday. The Port Authority has introduced different sailing times for The Cat tomorrow to facilitate people in Trinidad who need to vote in the Tobago House of Assembly Elections.