[UPDATED] Cabo Star back on seabridge service

THE MV Cabo Star ferry restarted sailings on August 30.

In an update from the Trinidad and Tobago Inter-Island Transportation Co (TTIT) late on August 29, the company said inspections and repairs had been completed.

It said as a result, the ferry would resume sailings, departing Port of Spain at 2pm and departing Scarborough at 11 pm.

The Cabo Star was out of service for ten days. On August 20, video footage of a fire on board the cargo vessel while it was docked at Port of Spain began circulating on Facebook. It showed a fire truck, several fire officers and police as port workers looked on while smoke billowed from the vessel’s upper deck.

A statement from the authority then said the fire was under investigation and, “given the nature of the incident, the service will be cancelled.”

The company apologised for any inconvenience caused by the vessel’s temporary suspension from the seabridge and said it continued to serve the public.

On August 27, the MV Emprendedora arrived to help transport cargo to and from Tobago while the Cabo Star was being repaired. Registered in Venezuela, the MV Emprendedora is a landing craft with about a tenth of the capacity of the Cabo Star.

Additional sailings were included on the seabridge schedule from August 27-30 to assist with cargo requirements.

Supermarkets across Tobago said they were unaffected by the Cabo Star’s absence. Chairman of the Tobago Division of the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce Curtis Williams said of the MV Emprendedora, “So far, the vessel has been doing extremely well. The additional sailings have been doing well and most of our members are quite comfortable with what has been done.”

He looked forward to welcoming the Cabo Star back on the route.

“Some of our members did have some low stock of items, but nothing to be panicked or excited about.”

Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George said he was always happy if additional capacity is provided for the movement of goods and people between Trinidad and Tobago.

“In this case, if it’s an additional cargo vessel to fill the shortfall caused by the absence of the Cabo Star, then of course we are grateful for that.”

He said his chamber had received no reports of shortages.

However, George calledon Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan for an update on the second cargo vessel which the minister said would be commissioned to supplement and complement the Cabo Star.

“The point is, you must always cater for redundancy in such a regard that you always have a back-up and a spare just in case. So therefore the same way something has happened to the Cabo Star which was unexpected –although with the pattern that is beginning to emerge, it is something that we are going to be monitoring very closely in August next year, to see if the Cabo Star would get a fire again...”

Sinanan could not be contacted for comment, as calls and messages to his cellphone went unanswered.

After meeting with the chamber in September 2023 in Scarborough, Sinanan told reporters the country could expect a new cargo ferry to service the seabridge in 18 months. Cabinet, he said, had decided some time ago to seek a custom-built cargo vessel to suit the requirements. Consultations were held in Tobago with all the stakeholders, he said.

This story was originally published with the title "Cabo Star ferry sailings resume" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE MV Cabo Star is scheduled to restart sailings today, August 30.

In an update from the Trinidad and Tobago Inter-Island Transportation Co (TTIT) late on August 29, the company said inspections and repairs to the vessel have been completed.

It said as a result, it will resume sailing on August 30, departing Port of Spain at 2pm and departing Scarborough at 11 pm.

The company said it regrets any inconvenience caused by the vessel’s temporary suspension from the seabridge and said it continues to serve the public.

The Cabo Star has been out of service for the past ten days. On August 20, video footage of a fire on board the cargo vessel while it was docked at the port of Port of Spain began circulating on Facebook. It showed a fire truck, several fire officers and police as port workers looked on while smoke billowed from the vessel's upper deck, leaving it out of service.

A statement from the authority then said the fire was under investigation and, “given the nature of the incident, the service will be cancelled.”