A new high-powered ferry arrives in Trinidad & Tobago
The Cat at the Port of Spain docks
by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Special Regional Correspondent
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
PORT OF SPAIN: Trinidad: The long-promised, fast-moving ferry for the people of Trinidad and Tobago finally arrived in the Port of Spain harbor at 6.47 pm on Monday and will be put right into service on a trial for six months.
Executive Manager of Scarborough and Government Shipping Service (GSS) Leon Grant told newsmen on Tuesday that the ferry, christened 'The Cat', will be berthed at the Cruise Ship Complex, Port of Spain for one week, where it will undergo statutory audits and certification and where local crew members will be trained. He said an initial 30 locals will be recruited for training to work on the ferry, including six non-nationals.
Caribbean Net News also understands that the high-powered vessel is on a six-month wet lease from Bay Ferries of Canada at a cost of US$23,800 per day. It has a capacity of carrying 800 passengers along with 250 vehicles and can make the trip between Trinidad and Tobago in two and a half to three hours.
Incat Corporate of Prince of Wales Bay, Hobart, Tasmania made the boat, which carries a full hull of some 321 feet, just over four years ago. Lovers of fine ocean-going craft told
Caribbean Net News that the model of the ferry is a wave-piercing catamaran that can operate comfortably in waves up to 16 feet. The waves between Trinidad and Tobago are no more than 12 feet therefore the vessel should perform well in these waters
It is also understood that Bay Ferries
operated The Cat twice a day from June to September on the 95 nautical mile
route from Bar Harbour, Maine in the United States to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in
Canada. During the winter of 2003-2004 The Cat was on a similar charter
operating on the Florida-Bahamas route.
The Government had first decided in June to
purchase a similar ferry outright but changed its mind when the company could
not provide an "out clause" in the contract. However, during the recent
tendering process for the MV Sonia the Government received very competitive
charter rates for a fast ferry and decided to go for it on a trial basis "to
see if it is an applicable vessel for the people of Trinidad and Tobago".
Government sources told Caribbean Net
News that two years ago Neil Wilson, the country's Tourism Secretary led a
team to the Canary Islands to see two similar ferries in operation and on his
return the fast ferry was recommended. The Cat will complement the MV Sonia as
a passenger carrier on the sea bridge, while the other vessel, MV Beauport
will be used to carry cargo.
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