TT Spirit ferry does sea trials after engine issues

The TT Spirit.
The TT Spirit.

The TT Spirit ferry experienced engine issues on Tuesday which led to the cancellation of its 6.30 am and 4 pm sailings, Lyle Alexander chairman of the Port Authority told Newsday on Wednesday.

Newsday was also told the vessel did some sea trials after minor repairs and once all goes well it will return to service soon.

On Tuesday, 250 passengers were affected when the Spirit had to be pulled from service. Vilma Lewis, public relations officer at the TT Inter-Island Ferry Service, said all travellers were accommodated on the APT James.

The Galleons Passage was sent to St Vincent on Tuesday, loaded with relief items for those affected by the activity of the La Soufriere volcano, so the port announced changes to the 8 am sailing from Port of Spain and the 4 pm sailing on Wednesday from Scarborough on the Galleons Passage.

These sailings were rescheduled to 4 pm and 6.30 pm respectively but the Galleons Passage is not expected back until Thursday morning.

Engine issues on the TT Spirit happened a week after the new Buccoo Reef ferry vessel arrived in the country on April 6. The vessel's crew went into a mandatory 14 days of quarantine on board the vessel.

Chairman of the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) Herbert George told Newsday on Wednesday when the quarantine period is completed the necessary inspections and certifications will follow.

He said there will be no sea trials and the vessel is expected to go into service by the end of April.

"After the vessels come out of quarantine it takes about two weeks before it goes into service. There are no sea trials to be had, but there are certain preparations to be made, like the inspections and certifications to put in place before we sail."

A date for commissioning the vessel is yet to be announced.

Comments

"TT Spirit ferry does sea trials after engine issues"

More in this section