The T&T Coast Guard has launched an investigation into what caused one of its vessels to sink off while docked in Tobago on Tuesday.
The vessel has since been dry-docked and is being repaired by a team of engineers.
In a statement yesterday, Public Relations Officer of the TT Coast Guard Lt Sherron Manswell confirmed that the vessel sunk but could not say what caused this.
“We are still working on finalising the report. We are doing an investigation but the boat is now on land,” Manswell said. He added that the boat is not inoperable and will be put to use once it is repaired.
This is not the first time that a vessel sank at that location.
Yesterday, secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea Gary Aboud circulated photographs of the submerged vessel.
He called for an investigation into the incident.
“A multi-million dollar vessel down the drain while uniformed Coast Guard officers standby idly. Every backyard seaman knows survival basics such as always have a bailer on standby if a vessel takes in water yet these officers seem to be liming while the vessel goes down,” Aboud said in a statement.
He urged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to ask himself “why the T&T Coast Guard wrecks every one of its high-powered prestige vessels in what mariners consider to be record time?”
“A Prime Minister has a duty to ensure that government agency expenditures are necessary, are prudently acquired and are managed efficiently and loyally. These officers appear to be untouchable,” Aboud added.