Works Minister Jearlean John: New Cargo Vessel To Be Delivered On Time
The Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Jearlean John, says the new cargo vessel will be delivered on time and with enhanced specifications.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, she said the replacement for the MV Cabo Star is designed to better meet the needs of its users.
She noted that discussions with key stakeholders began in June while the Cabo Star was dry-docked. During those talks, several enhancements were proposed, including accommodation for 100 cabins, capacity for 200 passengers, and additional engines to reduce travel time.
« In June, the Cabo Star was going on dry dock for one month and I found myself in Tobago for dry docking for one month where I told them that on, based on the contract, the Cabo Star, the term of that contract came to an end the 12th of January 2026, so we started to make preparations since then. As a matter of fact, I met with the Chamber of Commerce, the truckers and some other stakeholders and there they gave some enhanced specifications. They said the Cabo Star did not have any cabin capability, no facility, because the journey was about six hours, so they wanted a boat that would take at least four to five hours. They’re getting that, right, they have a boat with four engines, so there’s redundancy in that boat. If two engines go down, we still sailing. You have a boat with the capacity to carry for 100 cabins, so that’s an enhancement. It can carry 200 passengers, that’s an enhancement, so it’s a kind of cargo boat and passenger vessel and it will be here on time. »
The Cabo Star, which is owned by the Bridgemans Services Group, was sold and will leave Trinidad and Tobago’s shores when the lease ends on January 12th, 2026.
