Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan yesterday justified why the Port Authority of T&T (PATT) had to pay far more for the rental of the Trinity Transporter barge and Atlantic Provider ferry in comparison to the Super Fast Galicia.
Sinanan sought to explain the rationing behind the difference in costs after several posts on social media accused his ministry and PATT of paying far too much for the rental of the two vessels, which replaced the Galicia whose final voyage was Friday.
The daily rate charged for the Galicia was Euro 14,750, which amounted to TT$108,000 daily.
The Transporter’s daily rate is US$8,000 (TT$53,00) while the Provider’s costs US$14,000 (TT$97,150), for a combined cost to taxpayers of TT$150,000 daily or $42,000 more a day for usage of both vessels to operate on the sea bridge. The two vessels, which were leased for one month by PATT, will cost the Government $3.7 million for one month of service but there is an option to renew the leases for a further month or two.
Told questions had been raised about the exorbitant cost of the vessels yesterday, Sinanan said Government’s back was against a wall in the matter.
“The reason for this is because this was an emergency situation. We found ourselves facing a 14-day notice with the Galicia,” he said.
“We had to look at the vessels that were available because we had to ensure that we had a replacement vessels here to make that Sunday run. Obviously, once people make their vessels available knowing fully well it is an emergency you don’t have much choice... they will charge you a premium price. Once it is long term... then the cost is significantly less.”
Sinanan said tenders for the leasing of a cargo vessel to be used for the next three years as a medium term measure closed yesterday. Asked if the cost of this vessel could also be far more than the Galicia, Sinanan said: “It could also be more or could be less. The thing about it is that the Galicia was not only a price issue, there was also an issue with the infrastructure we had. There were other aspects of the Galicia in terms of the berthing of it, the draft, the fact that we could not get full usage of the vessel.”
Sinanan also spoke about the service offered by the Provider, which sailed to Tobago on Sunday with ten trucks carrying cargo. The vessel returned to Port-of-Spain on Sunday night with 29 cargo trucks.
“Everything worked according to plan. The berthing was normal. So far, we are operating exactly where we wanted it to operate. There have been no disruptions with the cargo as promised. So far we have not received any negative feedback.”
He said the only problem was that the Provider takes three hours longer than Galicia, which sailed for five hours. He said both vessels berthed at Queen’s Wharf, Port-of-Spain and not at the waterfront near the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Giving an update on the Galicia, Sinanan said the matter is now in the hands of the ministry’s attorney Claude Denbow, SC.
“They are now looking at the legal options in going forward. They (Galicia’s agent - Intercontinental Shipping) would have breached that contract now. What happen… part of their contract was to replace the Galicia with a suitable vessel so there would not have been any interruptions. Right now there is an interruption.
“We had to go and find two vessels to ensure that the sea bridge is serviced. That option was for them to bring in a vessel and then they remove the Galicia from the service. This was not done.”
He promised to visit Tobago with directors of PATT this to meet stakeholders there.
