Caption: Farley Augustine. Photo: Facebook

 

Summary

• A 67-metre barge will operate for 10 days from Friday to move cargo between Trinidad and Tobago while the Blue Wave Harmony is repaired.
• The sea bridge is currently serviced only by the APT James and Galleons Passage, with cargo movement on the barge to be handled via an appointment-based booking system.
• Buccoo Reef is expected back in service on February 9, and the Blue Wave Harmony is expected to return to full operations by next Wednesday after welding and inspection.

By Alicia Chamely

As of Friday, a 67-metre barge will be temporarily engaged to transport cargo between Trinidad and Tobago while the MV Blue Wave Harmony undergoes repairs, according to Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine.

Speaking at a post-Executive Council media briefing at the Hochoy Charles Administrative Complex, Calder Hall, Tobago, on Thursday, Augustine addressed issues affecting the sea bridge, which, as of Thursday, was being serviced by only two vessels: the APT James and the Galleons Passage.

Augustine said that, to address the cargo shortfall, the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) had engaged the services of a 67-metre barge for a period of 10 days, starting Friday.

He said, “The barge will commence operation on Friday, sixth, meaning tomorrow. This barge will commence operation as part of the interim measure to ensure that the goods that are required can come to the island.”

Augustine said the barge, which can accommodate 30 trucks at a time, would be used to transport cargo over 7,000 kg that cannot be accommodated by the existing passenger vessels.

He said the movement of cargo via the barge would be managed through an appointment-based booking system.

Augustine said that, as of Thursday, the only vessels servicing the sea bridge were the APT James and the Galleons Passage.

He said, “The vessels that are currently in service are as follows: the APT James is doing two sailings per day (one round trip) and has a capacity of 900 passengers and 150 vehicles. The Galleons Passage is also undertaking two sailings per day and has a capacity for 20 cars, 20 vans, and 10 trucks.”

Acknowledging the shortfall, Augustine said he had been notified by the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) that the vessel Buccoo Reef would be put back into service on February 9. He said the Buccoo Reef can accommodate approximately 948 passengers and 160 vehicles.

Discussing the MV Blue Wave Harmony, which was damaged during a sea trial on January 30—one week after it arrived in Port of Spain—Augustine said the vessel was undergoing repairs and should be operational by next Wednesday.

He said, “I am also advised at this time that NIDCO has confirmed that the final welding works commenced today, the fifth of February, and that the contractor has advised that, based on the scope of work, a total of four full days of welding is required.”

Augustine said that after the works are completed, an inspection would take place, and NIDCO expects “the Blue Wave Harmony to be fully operational by latest Wednesday next week.”

Regarding the circumstances that led to the vessel hitting the berth at the Scarborough Port, Augustine said that, given the extreme winds and rough sea conditions, there was no one to blame, as it could not have been prevented by any authority.

Augustine said, “What we are doing is working closely with the Port Authority, closely with NIDCO, closely with the Ministry of Works to ensure that the matter is rectified as soon as possible, and that measures are in place to provide some relief during this long period.”

“And that’s why the barge was introduced by the Port Authority as a measure. That’s why the Buccoo Reef is being reintroduced on Monday, so as to ensure we have sufficient space to move people during this period until the Blue Wave Harmony returns to full operations by latest Wednesday next week,” he concluded.