Trinidad and Tobago’s maritime authorities have activated comprehensive contingency measures to maintain vital inter-island transportation services following the expiration of the MV Cabo Star’s leasing agreement on January 12. The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) confirmed in an official January 14 announcement that emergency protocols are now operational to ensure uninterrupted movement of essential commodities, passengers, and accompanied vehicles during the transitional phase preceding the arrival of the replacement vessel, MV Blue Harmony.
The strategic contingency framework involves coordinated deployment of existing maritime assets utilizing established cargo prioritization systems and booking channels. According to PATT’s detailed operational plan, the Galleons Passage will serve as the primary vessel for essential and priority cargo transportation, while TT Spirit will handle limited palletized essential cargo within strictly enforced safety and weight parameters. The APT James has been designated exclusively for passenger and accompanied vehicle services.
Cargo management will follow a rigorously enforced three-tier priority system: Priority 1 encompasses food supplies, pharmaceuticals, and critical medical materials; Priority 2 includes essential retail and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) supplies; Priority 3 covers non-essential cargo that may be subject to transportation delays. Daily cargo acceptance will be administered by port and vessel operations teams adhering to these established guidelines.
Existing booking infrastructure through TT Inter-Island Transportation Company Ltd (TTIT) remains fully operational, including physical ticketing offices in Port of Spain and Scarborough, authorized remote ticket agents, and approved digital booking platforms where available. The authority has established 24-hour operational support channels accessible at 467-5072 (Port of Spain), 467-5330 (Scarborough), or via email at ambikar@patnt.com to address cargo-related inquiries during this transitional period.
PATT, in collaboration with TTIT and partner agencies, continues to actively manage the maritime transition to guarantee service continuity. Regular updates will be disseminated through official media channels and digital platforms as new information becomes available.