CARNIVAL RUNNER SINKS AFTER $25.6 M FOR REPAIRS

ROHAN Sinanan’s Ministry of Works and Transport was allocated $25.6 million in the current national budget to improve the reliability of the water taxi service. 

In addition, senior officials of the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDC) and the Maritime Services Division of the Ministry were advised weeks ago of maintenance issues with respect to the 11-year-old Carnival Runner. 

There was no prompt response to those internal reports. 

The collapse of the passenger vessel came as no surprise to those who had lodged those reports.   

The sinking of the water taxi at King’s Wharf, San Fernando is a major embarrassment to NIDCO and Sinanan’s Ministry. 

The 41-metre Carnival Runner was found to have taken in water and its stern resting on the seabed. 

But in the 2020-21 budget, the Ministry was allocated $25.6 million “to increase reliability of (water taxi) service.” 

The funding was meant to undertake fleet upgrades, including provision of lifesaving apparatus, jet bell housing and impellers. 

There are three other water taxi vessels – Calypso Sprinter, Trini Flash and Paria Bullet. 

The four vessels were built in Australia, and the Trinidad and Tobago Government paid a total of $430 million. 

The vessels could carry a total of 405 passengers. 

Maritime sources said that NIDCO has not paid sufficient attention to fleet maintenance. 

Opposition parliamentarian David Lee called on Sinanan to inform the country when last Carnival Runner was placed in dry dock for repairs. 

Lee said: “He must tell the population when last the vessel was sufficiently inspected for safety measures.” 

He said there was “possible neglect of the vessel” and that “lives could have been lost.” 

He called for an investigation and a contingency plan. 

When the four vessels were purchased, NIDCO officials boasted of their modern engines, ride controls, baggage storage and passenger comfort facilities.