Stephon Nicholas
Tobago Correspondent
Calamity was averted at the Scarborough Port on Monday night after a runaway truck, loaded with concrete blocks, almost crashed into a car with a woman seated inside. The drama unfolded around 10.30 pm as ramp issues aboard the MV Golden Carrier cargo vessel caused damage to at least three vehicles as they attempted to disembark.
The worst of the damage was suffered by the driver of a DAF flatbed truck. His vehicle's air tank valve broke off, the diesel tank was damaged and the drive shaft was bent as he tried to exit the vessel.
The driver, who wished to stay anonymous, told Guardian Media he made three attempts to disembark but got stuck each time. He said port workers instructed him to try reversing off the vessel, but this failed as his drive shaft got stuck on the ramp.
However, tragedy almost struck when the vehicle rolled off the ramp as he exited it to get a closer look at the problem.
He said, "When it start to roll backwards, I put meh hand on my head because I done know everything behind me going and get mash up. But when I watch behind my vehicle ah see ah woman inside ah car. That is the reason I run down the truck and mash brakes. If wasn't for that, somebody woulda sure die tonight," he said.
Despite being considered a hero by his peers for his swift action, the trucker said the incident has left him worse off. His truck remained parked on the port and is likely to be down for at least three days as parts are sourced from Trinidad.
Asked about who will incur the cost of repairing his truck, he wondered whether the Port Authority would intervene.
Commenting on the problems experienced, trucker Traves Baptiste said he believes the ramp is too steep, noting mats were placed on it to elevate vehicles as they crossed.
When Guardian Media visited the port around 11 pm on Monday, several other trucks got stuck trying to board the Golden Carrier for its journey back to Trinidad. One other truck was parked outside the port as its diesel tank strap burst while the exhaust pipe of a Libero wagon was reportedly damaged.
In a media release last night, however, the Port Authority denied the driver's account of the incident, instead claiming the vehicle rolled off the ramp because its parking brake was not engaged. The authority said after conducting an investigation and reviewing footage, the driver was able to stop the truck "a safe distance" from other vehicles. The authority claimed the incident was sensationalised.
The authority did not deny that several vehicles were stuck on the ramp and incurred damage. It referred to the damaged truck as being "stationary on the ramp for several minutes."
Prior to Monday's incident, the vessel received a glowing endorsement from Port Authority chairman Dr Rodney Ramroop, who described it as "one of the most superior" in the nation's history. The vessel replaced the MV Blue Wave Harmony, which is being pulled from service by its owner after just six months to undergo maintenance and upgrades.
Trucker Caelron des Vignes, who was a vocal critic of the Blue Wave Harmony, echoed Ramroop's sentiment when Guardian Media spoke to him on Monday afternoon after he sailed on the vessel the previous day.
Des Vignes said, "This is one of the best we probably ever had. The new Golden Carrier is a great vessel. It has proper capacity; it has coverage for your vehicles. It's a more modern vessel — clean, well-equipped, spacious and luxurious. They did a great job in procuring this vessel."
The Golden Carrier arrived in T&T on Saturday and made its maiden voyage to Scarborough on Sunday as it commenced sea trials. The Golden Carrier is expected to begin commercial sailings soon.
