The Jean de La Valette, the new vessel that will be servicing the T&T’s sea-bridge, is all set for its maiden voyage.
Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan made the announcement after this year’s 6th Annual Road Safety Awards on Wednesday.
Sinanan said all protocols and adjustments to accommodate the vessel have been completed.
“We did indicate that the weekend of the 15th was earmarked and so far, everything seems to be on schedule as far as the vessel is concerned,” said Sinanan.
Sinanan admitted that ramps needed to be altered for the vessel, but he said that process is not uncommon when a vessel is leased. However, the Minister said the vessels being constructed for T&T will be designed to cater to local infrastructure.
“The Spirit we had to adjust for it, all the vessels that we have used so far in Trinidad, we had to accommodate them by building different ramps,” said Sinanan.
The Minister said the Jean de la Valette’s trial run should take place later this week and he estimates the time of sailing between islands to be two and a half hours.
As Tobago prepares for Great Race 2019 on August 17, the Minister said plans to have extra sailings are being considered. He said with the influx of travellers going to the event in Tobago he is looking into having one of the vessels operate twice a day.