Sinanan: Two ferries for US$49,000 per day

Sinanan said The Cargo Star will arrive in TT in mid July. It can carry 120 passengers plus cargo, to suit the needs of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

“It has been chartered for one year at a cost of US$22,500 per day. “A passenger vessel, the Ocean Flower is expected to arrive in Trinidad on July 17.

This vessel has been charted for one year at a cost of US$26,500 per day.” In a supplemental query, Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh, asked if the two ships had been leased by way of a tender? Sinanan replied, “On several occasions I have indicated that the Government found itself in a situation where the cargo vessel was pulled from service, and the Port Authority had to use all the vessels that were available at that point in time. “There was a tender issued. That tender however was not subscribed to. We got one tenderer.

“The Port Authority again used the services of local agents. They looked at what was submitted to the Port.

Hence why a charter was signed for one year, with the expectation that a new tender will be going out very shortly.” Gopeesingh posed another supplemental.

“Are you saying that in the acquisition of these two vessels there has been no tender and it was sent directly to a local agent without any tendering process by the local agent?”.

Sinanan replied, “I think I was very clear as to the process used and any further information I’m sure the Port can submit in writing to you.” Sinanan, later in reply to a listed question from Pointe-a- Pierre MP David Lee, revealed that the Sea Lots Walkover will cost $10.7 million and will be ready by September.

Sinanan said the cost is actually below the initial engineers estimates, and the process had seen tender bids made by nine contractors, the highest bid of which was $17 million.