T&T Express to continue seabridge service

The T&T Express which services thesea bridge and which was expected to go on dry-dock by today will remain in service for another two months in the absence of a replacement vessel.

The Port Authority (PATT) in a release yesterday said the vessel was surveyed by the international certification body DNV and granted “temporary class certificates” for it to operate for another two months. “This certification means that the vessel will remain in service to provide the inter-island operations, following which it will commence its statutory maintenance programme,” the PATT said.

This follows the inability of PATT’s board to lease another vessel in time for the T&T Express to go on dry dock and Government setting up a ministerial committee to oversee the procurement of one. The procurement process collapsed after the board of the PATT had signed a contract with Bridgeman’s Services to provide the vessel, the Ocean Flower which was not delivered on time. Government cancelled the contract for that vessel in August.

The T&T Express’ sister vessel, T&T Spirit has been on mandatory dry dock at the Caribbean Dockyard in Chaguaramas since June. “Most of the major works have been completed inclusive of the installation of the crankshaft. The new turbo chargers are expected into the country by the end of January, 2018. It is expected that this vessel should return to operations during the month of February, 2018,” PATT said.

PATT said, since the introduction of the cargo vessel, the MV Cabo Star, the transportation of passengers/drivers and commercial cargo vehicles has returned to a regular and reliable service between the islands. The Cabo Star was leased in June for a one-year period.