By Richardson Dhalai Thursday, July 3 2008

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Dry docked: The HC Olivia and HC Milancia, in the background, and the HC Katia (not photographed) are to be painted in the national colours before bei...

The three hydro cruiser (HC) catamarans which are to be used as water taxis between Port-of-Spain and San Fernando are to be painted in the national colours of red, white and black.

The white catamarans arrived in Trinidad on Monday and have been dry docked at Chaguaramas to be painted.

The HC Milancia, the HC Olivia and the HC Katia, worth an estimated US$10 million (TT$63 million) each, were brought in from Southhampton, England by the Dutch cargo vessel, MV Singlegracht, on Monday evening. The HC Milancia and the HC Olivia were offloaded at the port of Point Lisas while the HC Katia was taken to Chaguaramas.

However by yesterday morning, the HC Milancia and the HC Olivia set sail from Point Lisas to Chaguaramas.

The catamarans each have a composite hull/aluminium superstructure and are 27 metres long. A source said the vessels appeared to be in good condition and may not require extensive refurbishment. Each vessel can accommodate up to 150 passengers and four crew members and travel at a speed of 35 knots.

The catamarans were acquired by the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) for the water taxi service. NIDCO’s corporate communications specialist Majid Mohammed at first declined to comment when contacted by Newsday for details about the catamarans. He instead asked how Newsday got exclusive photographs of the catamarans which were published in yesterday’s edition. He then asked what further information was required saying a story and photographs had already been published.

When pressed for information about the start-up date for the water taxi, Mohammed asked for an e-mail to be sent requesting the additional details. In the e-mail Newsday asked for “either an interview or additional information regarding the water taxi service between Port-of-Spain and San Fernando including a possible tour of the vessels, condition of same, the possible start-up dates for service and the arrival date of the fourth vessel.”

In his emailed reply, Mohammed said Newsday’s request was “currently under review.”

Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert was said to be in day-long meetings and was unavailable for comment when his office was contacted.

Meanwhile, at King’s Wharf, San Fernando, fishermen expressed concern about the water taxis saying their industry was on the brink of extinction since they would no longer be able to fish in the “right of way” lanes in the Gulf of Paria.

President of the San Fernando Fishing Co-Operative Society Salim Gool said the traffic in the Gulf of Paria would destroy the fertile fishing grounds.

“Fish will just migrate out of the Gulf because of the increased traffic, noise and pollution and with the scarcity of food, the fishing industry, instead of easing the burden on consumers will just become another casualty,” he said.

“When these water taxis start their operations, they will obviously claim a part of the Gulf for their route so we won’t be able to fish in those areas.”

Gool said the grounds of the recently constructed fishing centre had been reduced to accommodate the construction of a jetty for passengers.

San Fernando Mayor Kenneth Ferguson last week disclosed that the jetty, car park, ticket booths, toilet facilities had been completed at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando.

The water-taxi service will operate between the key urban centres on the west coast of Trinidad with proposed docking to be located in the vicinity of the Breakfast Shed at the Port of Port-of- Spain, King’s Wharf, San Fernando, Clifton Hill, Point Fortin, Waterloo, Orange Valley Chaguanas and Point Cumana, north of Invaders Bay.

The estimated travelling time between San Fernando and Port-of-Spain is 30 to 45 minutes, and commuters are expected to pay $15 one way.