Tobago Correspondent
Hunger and frustration turned to anger last night as passengers aboard the Galleons Passage endured a painstaking nine-hour journey to Tobago.
What started as a routine inter-island trip at 3.15 pm ended in a nightmare sailing, with the vessel docking in Scarborough shortly after midnight — double its usual four-and-a-half-hour journey time.
The extended voyage left several passengers, including children and elderly travellers, feeling ill.
Travellers told Guardian Media that the vessel took approximately eight hours to reach Scarborough waters. However, their travel woes were compounded by an hour-long delay before the ferry could dock and passengers disembark.
They claimed an announcement was made informing them that they had to wait for the Blue Wave Harmony to leave the port before the Galleons Passage could enter.
In a media release, the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) said the vessel encountered mechanical issues early in its journey, causing its engine to operate at elevated temperatures. The company said the ferry was forced to reduce its speed from its normal cruising range of 15 to 19 knots to 11 knots.
Passenger Vernel Carrington said the vessel showed signs of sluggishness from the outset.
She said, “From the time that vessel move off, I said this is gonna be a very, very long sail.”
Carrington complained about the lack of communication from authorities regarding the delayed arrival.
“It is only when we reach almost in Tobago they say they cannot dock and need another half hour. That was it, and it took nearly a whole hour.
“No kind of communication — not even a cup of hot tea for them hours. I felt so sick.”
Carrington said the journey was made even more uncomfortable because the air-conditioning (AC) system was not functioning in parts of the vessel.
“They told us that up front; that was the only information — that they had no AC and the ride would be rough.
“I had nothing to eat because I was busy. It was terrible. I started to feel so sick. Even my friend with me, we were feeling sick. Is a good thing I had some Gravol.”
Carrington said she had planned to buy something to eat upon arriving in Scarborough, but by the time passengers disembarked after midnight, most establishments had already closed.
Vowing never to board the vessel again, she said the Port Authority should compensate passengers for what she described as a terrible experience.
“The next time I see that boat, I am gonna refuse boarding it. Anytime I book a ticket again to Tobago and is that particular boat, I am not going.”
Carrington also called on authorities to rebrand the ferry.
“They should name it over. Name it the Trinidad and Tobago Snail, because that is the speed it was going at.”
Meanwhile, a male passenger, who asked not to be identified, said people began venting their frustration on security personnel.
“We seeing Tobago, we seeing the lights, but the boat like it stalling. An hour pass, two hours pass, three hours. People start to get disgruntled. People start to argue, obscenities start to fly left and right, because people mad.”
He said passengers and security officers became involved in heated verbal exchanges as tensions mounted aboard the vessel.
“People wanna fight each other. Anything triggering somebody because people hungry. The bathroom have no water. Them have to fix these things.”
He added, “I don’t wanna make it political, but I never encounter this under the last regime.”
The passenger also rejected the explanation that the Blue Wave Harmony had to leave the port before the Galleons Passage could dock. He noted that ferries have docked alongside cruise ships at the port on numerous occasions.
NIDCO said the vessel experienced operational challenges at the port because it shares berthing facilities with the Blue Wave Harmony. The company added that technical assessments of the vessel are under way and apologised to all affected passengers.
