Businesses hope Cabo Star will return to service this weekend

Tobago Correspondent

While there is no panic at supermarkets and warehouses, Tobago businesses have their fingers crossed that repairs on the Cabo Star will go smoothly and the vessel will return to service this weekend.

Yesterday marked a week since a fire broke out in the auxiliary engine room while the vessel was docked at the Port of Port-of-Spain.

Since then, a Panamanian certification society inspector arrived in the country and completed an assessment of the damage.

Repairs began over the weekend and are expected to be done by Friday.

Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s Tobago Division, Curtis Williams, yesterday noted that while there was no panic, some wholesalers decided to scramble to restock supplies. He said it was critical the vessel returns soon.

Williams said, “You know with timelines and deadlines and experience from the past, sometimes we get a date and it doesn’t materialise because of things beyond somebody’s control. So it is important that we do get the vessel back in line.

“Foodstuff, most of the supplies at the supermarket is in stock. It’s just couple of the wholesalers had a rush to gather up stuff. But other than that, there is no panic.

“We are looking forward to getting the vessel in. You know school is going to reopen and some of our supplies are running really low.”

Meanwhile, the Inter-Island Transport Service announced additional sailings this week to get more goods to Tobago. The updated schedule on the APT James and Galleons Passage includes six additional sailings over the next three days.This includes an 11 am sailing for the APT James, and a 9 am for the Galleons Passage from Port-of-Spain from Tuesday to Friday.

The Port Authority has also decided to temporarily lease the Emprendedora barge to transport building materials. Guardian Media understands this is to ensure construction at the ongoing airport project is not disrupted.

Port Authority TT chairman Lyle Alexander yesterday said he could not disclose the results of the investigation into the cause of the fire at this time.

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