A NEW vessel for the tropical Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago is to be built by Incat, a company based in the thoroughly un-tropical island of Tasmania.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced the deal in the nation’s parliament this week.
The new fast passenger / cargo ferry is to have capacity for 1000 persons, including 224 VIP seats, and is to carry 239 cars or a combination of trucks and cars.
The Trinidad & Tobago inter-island ‘seabridge’ previously has been served by two Incat vessels, the T&T Express and T&T Spirit.
Incat chairman Robert Clifford said Incat was pleased the Trinidad and Tobago government had invested further in their vital seabridge connection with the purchase of a newbuild vessel.
“We look forward to delivering their new ship in 2020,” Mr Clifford said.
The new vessel is to incorporate several onboard catering facilities with a restaurant, kiosk and bars serving the central and aft cabins and the forward VIP area, a gift shop.
The vessel is to also include a prisoner holding cell for transfers between Trinidad and Tobago.
Incat will soon commence construction of the Trinidad ferry at the shipyard in Hobart Tasmania.
The latest ship to emerge from the Incat Tasmania shipyard, the 110 metre HSC Saint John Paul II, is to do sea trials over the next week and is set to depart late January for a new home in Malta servicing the route between Malta and Sicily.
