A FOUR-HOUR sailing on board the Galleons Passage turned into an over-nine-hour “nightmare” for passengers from Port of Spain to Scarborough on Tuesday.
In a release yesterday, the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco) stated that during the 3 p.m. sailing of the vessel from Port of Spain, it experienced a mechanical issue that caused all engines to operate at elevated temperatures.
“As a precautionary safety measure, the vessel’s speed was reduced to approximately 11 knots. This is compared to its normal cruising speed of 15-19 knots. The journey was further extended by operational delays at both terminals, as the Galleons Passage shares berthing facilities with the Blue Wave Harmony. Technical assessments of the vessel are under way, and the matter is being closely monitored,” the company stated.
Nidco apologised for the inconvenience caused and thanked passengers for their patience.
Affected passenger Ashton Bennett yesterday, described the trip as “a sea of torture” to and at the port in Scarborough, with the vessel only landing shortly after midnight yesterday.
“The sound system on the boat not even working properly, the sound system, the toilets start to back-up, it was a total nightmare, something which you know I think I need counselling to get over,” Bennett said.
He continued: “It limped its way straight to Tobago and we actually reached in about 11.50 p.m. and I was able to get off at 12.05 a.m. this (yesterday) morning; the situation was, no one shared any information as to what was going on.
“Actually, they came on just a few minutes before when we was in Tobago waters saying that the ramp was being occupied by another vessel and we still have to wait.”
He said the vessel drifted around Scarborough until the Blue Wave Harmony was docked at the Scarborough Port. Bennett added that while on board during the ordeal, the cafeteria was closed.
“There was a little old lady next to me who was diabetic and her sugar levels went down and we had to go and get something for her to eat. And if anybody knows about the boat passengers are not allowed outside, so after a time passengers were very agitated on the vessel,” Bennett added.
