Beauport lease to be terminated

The MV Panorama is to be sold. The inter-island ferry between Trinidad and Tobago, which served as the sole passenger ferry for more than 15 years, will be put out for offers. This was revealed by Minister of Works and Transport Franklin Khan. Khan said that apart from the sale of the Panorama, the lease on the MV Beauport, which Government has been renting for US $14,000 per day, will be terminated. The initial agreement between the Beauport’s owners and Government reportedly cost US$15 million. The Beauport, which arrived in Trinidad on November 28,2000, broke down several times last year leaving several passengers stranded.

It was leased by Government after the MV Panorama was placed on dry dock in Curacao for repairs. The Beauport, which was built in 1970 and refurbished in 1991, doubled up on its trips to satisfy passenger demand in the absence of the Panorama. The Australian firm Incath Ltd was responsible for sourcing the third ferry, the MV Sonia. The Beauport  and Sonia, two conventional ferries were leased from Internal Shipping Partners in Miami. The Cat was leased from Bay Ferries of the United States. Khan said that he does not expect the Panorama to bring in a considerable sum of money because of the age and condition of the ferry. He feels that the time has come to sell the ferry and purchase a fast ferry for passengers travelling between Trinidad and Tobago, and a cargo ferry to transport goods, vehicles, machinery and other bulky cargo between Trinidad and Tobago.

He added that the Sonia is a conventional one-year charter ferry and the Cat are currently on a trial run. He feels that based on the feedback,  The Cat is proving to be fast and reliable. “It is the best ferry service that the country has ever had since independence,” boasted Khan. On Friday, Khan will hold a special meeting with members of the Port Authority Board, and the Tobago House of Assembly to finalise the sale of the MV Panorama and the termination of the lease for the MV Beauport. Khan said that it was always Government’s plan to have three vessels operating under the Tobago seabridge (fast ferry, conventional ferry and a cargo vessel). Tenders will be issued shortly for the purchase of the three vessels.