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alexk
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The National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) is toying with the idea of sailing the Galleons Passage free of charge to Tobago.
The question was posed yesterday to Nidco’s chairman Herbert George following a press conference yesterday at the Ministry of Works and Transport headquarters, Port-of-Spain, as he dispelled continuous reports that the vessel was unsafe to service the seabridge.
The issue was raised last week by president of the Transport Division of the Tobago Chamber Diane Hadad who proposed that in an effort to restore confidence on the seabridge, Government should give consideration to “having the first couple of sailing free,” to the public. This Hadad said would serve as a gift to passengers.
George said: “We have toyed with the idea. We have not decided on it. We have run it by the port people because they will be responsible for operating the service. We will provide the vessel and they will operate it. Yes, I have heard it spoken about more and more. There seems to be more traction in that.”
George could not say when the Galleons Passage will make its first sail to Tobago, stating that there were a number of issues that still needed to be sorted out.
He insisted that the vessel survived three hurricanes while enroute from China to T&T, while it obtained its class certification and passed its inspections tests.
He admitted that while the vessel was on its way to Trinidad there was an oil leak and an accident that resulted in its propellers, shafts, bearings and seals on three of the boat’s engines being damaged which had to be changed.
“Nobody is trying to hide anything,” George said.
On Sunday, members of the Opposition at a press conference argued that the vessel was likely to take six hours from Trinidad to Tobago. Questioned if this was true, George replied “this is a simple arithmetic problem. If the vessel has to travel at 91 nautical miles and it can go 22 knots how long will it take? The SEA people (students) could answer that.”
This means the vessel is likely to take over four hours. Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the Galleons Passage is a regular ferry.
He said a decision will be taken this week “whether we will continue the dry docking or get rid of the T&T Express and bring in a third vessel immediately.”
Sinanan said there would be three vessels operating the inter-island ferry service, the T&T Spirit, T&T Express and Galleons Passage.