The Galleons Passage docked at the Port of Scarborough hours ago after another successful sea trial. But once again the crew had to agonise through a lengthy docking process due to issues with the ramp.
The vessel arrived at the port before noon but encountered difficulty as it attempted to dock by lining up its stern ramp with a ramp which was built to bridge the gap between the vessel’s ramp and the level of the ground.
The Galleons Passage’s stern ramp is not able to settle on the ground when fully extended at either the Port of Port-of-Spain or the Port of Scarborough and PATT officials have had to build portable ramps which are put into place when the vessel is docking, the T&T Guardian understands.
Several curious onlookers lined outside the Scarborough port facility to catch a glimpse of the vessel as it once again created a stir as it attempted to berth several times.
This was the second sea trial for the vessel, which also encountered troubled berthing on the first trial two weeks ago due to issues with the vessel’s bow ramp not being able to settle at ground level on the port. The crew eventually abandoned that attempt because, as NIDCO eventually pointed out, that trial was not to test docking but the journey to Tobago.
PATT officials are yet to release details of the actual journey to Tobago. However, the vessel is said to have let the Port of Port-of-Spain shortly before 8 am today for the journey to Tobago.
The vessel is still yet to get the required certification from the Maritime Services to begin working the seabridge.