After what he described as a successful test run to Tobago and back to Port-of-Spain on Friday, Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan says the cargo vessel the Cabo Star should be ready to begin inter-island transport tomorrow.
In an interview yesterday, Sinanan said there were still a few necessary documents and agreements to be put in place in order for the vessel to sail commercially, including customs, immigration and maritime documents.
“They do have protocols to complete and ensure management agreements are in place. They should have this in place by Monday or Tuesday, but more likely it will be on Monday.
Sinanan said he had received a report that the test run went well and that stakeholders in Tobago were not disappointed.
The vessel reportedly left Port-of-Spain at 11.30 am and docked in Scarborough shortly before 5 pm. It returned to Port-of-Spain on Friday night.
Yesterday, secretary of the Tobago Business Chamber David Wong said a group of about 30 stakeholders including Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy toured the vessel.
“We managed to go aboard and get a walk around. It is a big boat and can carry a lot of trucks. It can do the job,” Wong said.
He said while things were returning to normal, in terms of the capacity of cargo which could be transported, he added that the effects of the past three months could still be felt by Tobagonians.
“We still don’t know where the Ocean Flower is. Now that we can bring goods to Tobago, moving people to Tobago is still a big problem.”
Both vessels were leased from Bridgemans Services Group of Vancouver, Canada, at a daily cost of US$22,500 (around $157,500 TT) and US$26,500 ($185,500 TT) respectively, and are expected to fill the transportation gap created when the Super Fast Galicia left these shores in April after a contractual fallout with Patt.
The Cabo Star will cost the Government $4,725,000 (TT) per month and the Ocean Flower $5,565,000 (TT).
The maintenance and staffing will be provided by the vessel’s owners given that it is being chartered for one year.
The vessel does not have the capacity to sail between both islands twice a day, but will sail once from either island six days a week.
Once the Cabo Star vessel begins operations, both the Atlantic Provider and the Barge will be pulled from the sea bridge.