The Cabo Star cargo vessel is expected to return to service next week.
This follows a fire on August 20th and a subsequent inspection this past week by a Panamanian certification society inspector.
The Inter-Island Transport Service confirmed the fire happened inside the auxiliary engine room around 10 am. No one was injured and the crew quickly contained the fire.
The inspector arrived in the country on Wednesday and started an assessment of the situation the following day.
Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) chairman Lyle Alexander told media that more sailings will be added in the coming days to transport additional goods to Tobago ahead of the Cabo Star’s return.
He said the authority is doing everything in its power to address any disruptions in the seabridge caused by the cargo vessel’s absence.
“The vessel owner has indicated that we should have the vessel back on stream by next weekend— the weekend coming. We are going to add additional sailings to make up for the shortfall,” Alexander said.
“These are risks associated with maritime transport. Working with the available resources, we have put the pedal to the metal, doing the very best we can. There are some resources that could make the job more efficient but in their absence, we continue to do the best we can with what we have. Our responsibility is to the customers, and we fully recognise what that responsibility is, doing everything we can to uphold it.”
The latest fire happened just three days before the anniversary of the August 23, 2023 fire in the same compartment of the vessel while out at sea. It took three weeks before the vessel could return to service then.