Bids invited for old ferry

THE Port Authority is inviting bids for the sale of the fast ferry TT Express.

In a newspaper advertisement, the authority said it was inviting bids on behalf of the Government for the purchase of the Express and its inventory of spare parts. These bids are being invited on an “as is, where is” basis.

Bid documents are available from the office of the port secretary at the authority’s administration building on Dock Road in Port of Spain. The documents have been available to interested parties between 8 am and 4 pm, since January 7. There is a non-refundable fee of $5,000 which can be paid in cash, Linx or manager’s cheque to the cashier on the ground floor.

Sealed bids will be received up to 2 pm on February 8. The authority said it reserved the right to cancel the bid for sale and re-invite bids at any time.

Last July, the Prime Minister announced the Express would be sold.

The Express, which has been in operation since 2006, has several operational issues and there is no longer any interest in continuing repair work.

The ferry was bought for US$20 million and was already ten years old when it was bought.

Government is acquiring two new fast ferries from Australia for the domestic sea bridge. The National Infrastructure Development Company is seeking to lease a fast ferry while these vessels are being built. Dr Rowley has said the new ferries should arrive in TT by mid-2020.

The sea bridge is currently serviced by the Galleons Passage, TT Spirit and Cabo Star.