The Trinidad and Tobago Inter-Island Fast Ferry service
It consists of two catamaran fast ferries named the T&T Express and T&T Spirit. These ferries carry passengers between Trinidad and Tobago on daily sailings ranging from 4-8> sailings everyday. The T&T Express is an INCAT 046 is 91m long and is capable of holding 762 passengers and 240 vehicles and travels at 43knots whereas the T&T Spirit is 98m long and has he capacity to hold 900 passengers and 267 vehicles and travels around the same speed as the T&T express. Approximately 6000 people commute daily using these ferries with figures rising during Carnival and peak times. It takes 2.5 hours(sometimes less) to make the 85 nautical mile(98 miles) journey from Port of Spain to Scarborough and vice verca.

The T&T Spirit
http://affordableluxuryapartments-tobago.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Picture_048.39190807.jpg

The T&T Express
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww350/trini12008/ttexpress.jpg

http://www.sweetlittletobago.com/T&T%20Express.JPG

Woo!! is very nice, good photo. Regards.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3410816298_5c3d4476c8_b.jpg

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6420/51awatertaxi8291208.jpg

Water taxi's in docked in San Fernando
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/18564577.jpg

Video of the fast ferry from Port of Spain- Scarborough(Tobago)
C00upA5MLGY

Nice video of someone travelling from Port of Spain-San Fernando(Sando)
Fast forward to 1:00 min to see the actual journey
cEE2xH7xgiQ

Wow,the T&T Spirit looks like the one I took in Nova Scotia in Canada a few years ago,they are FAST!!!.

They are very very similar the one which you took(The Cat) was the Incat Hull 059 and the T&T Spirit is the Incat Hull 060 I think th eonly difference is that ours was an army boat so it needed a larger capacity which is why it is larger.

Thanks for the info.Very interesting facts!!!.

Fast Patrol Craft Crew complete Austal Training

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009

More than 90 personnel from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard have completed a comprehensive Austal vessel training program in preparation for the delivery of their six vessel Fast Patrol Craft fleet in early 2010.

The crew training program - held at Austal’s dedicated training facilities in Western Australia - familiarised TTCG personnel with the specific features and capabilities of the 30 metre Fast Patrol Craft, equipping them with the skills necessary to operate the vessels and perform basic maintenance.

Ordered in 2008, the all-aluminium fast patrol boats will support the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in providing sustained surveillance in the country’s internal waters, the archipelagic territorial sea and its exclusive economic zone.


Additional contracts for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, along with the crew training services, were attached to the initial order, demonstrating Austal’s growing Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) capability.

The crew training package comprises two different streams - a familiarisation training program for TTCG deck officers and ratings, and a maintenance training program for engineer officers and ratings.

The comprehensive maintenance training program familiarised the TTCG’s shore-based support personnel with the construction of the vessels, equipping them with the capability to conduct operational level maintenance as required.

Austal General Manager – Service, Michael McCourt, said coinciding the training program with the construction of the vessels provided the ideal environment for Austal’s dedicated training service.

“Trades covered by this program include aluminium fabricators and welders, electricians, engineers and outfitters, who each already have a certificate and a minimum of two years experience in their respective trade,” Mr McCourt said.

“Completion of the training program will elevate each of the personnel to a new level of expertise in their relevant field in a timeframe much shorter than traditional training programs,” he said.

Mr McCourt said Austal would train a further 60 TTCG personnel on location in Trinidad and Tobago commencing in January 2010.

http://www.austal.com/index.cfm?objectid=B5DF1BD8-65BF-EBC1-2760EC4290B67616- a picture is include

Water Taxi to Reduce Traffic Congestion and Travel Times

Computer render of the 41-metre passenger ferries
In its third significant commercial order for the year, Austal will design and construct four 41 metre high speed passenger catamaran ferries for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Designed to carry 405 passengers at a speed of approximately 37 knots, the aluminium vessels are intended to help reduce road congestion in Trinidad and Tobago by establishing a water taxi service between San Fernando and Port of Spain in southwest Trinidad.

The water taxi service is part of the Trinidad and Tobago Government’s “Vision 2020” strategy plan, which aims for an efficient, integrated, multi-modal public transport system. When fully operational the water taxi service is expected to facilitate the transport of approximately 8,000 to 12,000 passengers in a normal working day and will be integrated with other transport systems.

Construction of the four ferries will be shared across Austal’s Tasmanian and Western Australian shipyards, with delivery scheduled for late 2010. Included in the contract is a maintenance and training package which will see Austal deliver crew familiarisation and planned maintenance management.

Austal’s latest contract continues a recent run of commercial orders for the company, which has included two large high speed vehicle ferries for leading European operators Nordic Ferry Services and Virtu Ferries.

Austal Managing Director Bob Browning said recent orders had underlined the importance of diversity within the company’s product range and production facilities.

“Considering the current global economic climate, this achievement is a fantastic endorsement of Austal’s commitment to fulfilling its customer's commercial needs with affordable, quality products,” he said.

“By offering a diverse range of commercial products - from passenger ferries such as these to the larger vehicle ferries ordered earlier in the year - we now find ourselves in the position of having a steady workload across all of our Australian shipyards,” he said.

Mr Browning said Austal’s Tasmanian shipyard, which specialises in small to medium size vessels, was well suited to facilitating the order following the recent completion of three 22 metre catamarans for the Queensland Police Service.

The vessels will be owned by Trinidad and Tobago’s National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) - a government statutory authority - and operated by external consultants. The international tender process undertaken by NIDCO called for proven vessels that could be customised to best meet the proposed service and be delivered within 12 months of contract effective.

Austal’s design is based on its 41 metre catamaran platform, two of which have been successfully operating in Norway with leading operator OVDS since 2003.

With a combined capacity of 1620 passengers, the four Austal high speed catamarans will reduce travel times between North and South Trinidad by almost two thirds. The reduction in the number of cars on the road will also deliver environmental benefits including reduced vehicle exhaust and noise emissions, and reduces the need to maintain and expand major roads and highways.

Austal Director – Global Sales and Marketing, Andrew Bellamy, said the order reaffirmed Austal’s commitment to the passenger ferry market.

“Experience from more than 80 similar ferry deliveries along with specialised facilities such as our Tasmanian shipyard allows Austal to facilitate the fast delivery of quality, smaller vessel fleets at an affordable price,” Mr Bellamy said.

“This order is also a reminder of the ability of high speed commercial ferries to provide an important public transportation service, increasingly relevant for countries seeking environmental and logistical solutions for key urban centres,” he said.

Passenger seating onboard each vessel is split over two levels, with the main passenger deck featuring four passenger entry points, a central kiosk and dedicated baggage compartment and bike racks. The vessels will be powered by four MTU 16V2000 M72 engines driving Kamewa waterjets and will be fitted with Austal Ride Control to ensure passenger comfort.

As well as performing an important water taxi service, the ferries will provide emergency backup for the existing inter-island service between Trinidad and Tobago. To meet this secondary function, Austal configured all four vessels with the capability to retrofit a forward mounted T-foil ride control system at short notice, allowing the vessels to operate in open, unprotected seas.

The four vessel order is set to expand Austal’s presence in the Caribbean country, which currently includes the design and construction of six fast patrol craft for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, due for delivery in early 2010. Attached to the fast patrol craft order is a comprehensive five year maintenance and training package to be undertaken by Austal’s Trinidad and Tobago–based service representatives.

Austal also has a further five vessels operating in the greater Caribbean region, including four high speed ferries in Guadeloupe.

Vessel Specifications
Length Overall - 41.2m
Length Waterline - 38.2m
Beam Moulded - 10.9m
Hull Depth Moulded - 4.3m
Hull Draft - up to 2.0m with ride control fitted
Passengers - 405
Crew - 8
Fuel - 7,500 litres
Engine - 4 x MTU 16V2000 M72
Gearbox - 4 x Reintjes VLJ730 HL/HR
Waterjets - 4 x Kamewa 56A3
Service Speed – approx 37 knots
Classification - Det Norske Veritas, X1A1 HSLC Passenger R2 EO Passenger A

Thanks for the information...Beautiful Pictures.

These are what the four new water taxis will look like:

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww350/trini12008/Water_Taxi_jpg.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/3997165826_25e9dea02d_b.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/28835746.jpg

The New Fast Ferries for the water taxi service are complete
:banana:
Bound for Trinidad service

23/Jul/2010

High-speed passenger ferries on trial in Cockburn Sound. High-speed passenger ferries on trial in Cockburn Sound.

FOUR new 41-metre Austal high-speed passenger ferries have been put through their paces in the Cockburn Sound over the past few weeks.

The ferries, built at Austal’s Henderson shipyard, will head later this year to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The ferries can reach up to 37 knots and each can accommodate 405 passengers. They will be used as water taxis between San Fernando and Port of Spain in south-west Trinidad.

Austal chief operating officer Andrew Bellamy said the trials reflected the company’s proven design and construction techniques.

“Austal continually seeks improvements in hull efficiency to achieve an optimum balance between passenger comfort, speed and efficiency over the required loading conditions and manoeuvrability,” he said.

Two ferries of the same design have been operating in Norway since 2003.

Passenger seating aboard each vessel is split over two levels, with the main passenger deck featuring four passenger entry points, a kiosk and baggage compartment and bike racks.

The water taxi service is expected to handle about 7500 passengers in a normal working day.

The ferries will be shipped to the Carribean over the next few months.

http://truenorthmark.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/nidco-aerial-1a.jpg

Trini all these water taxis looks amazing and the better thing would be to take rode in it. When I was in Dubai at that time I went to few places through water taxi only and I really enjoyed my ride in it.

Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

Two new water taxis to go up for sale
By ANDRE BAGOO Friday, August 13 2010

THERE is not enough demand to justify the maintenance of four water taxis, Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner said yesterday, and so Cabinet is to consider selling two of the four new taxis which will soon arrive in this country.

“It has to go to Cabinet, but I will tell you that the existing ones that we have now will be sold,” Warner said. “Those two that we have now will be sold. And the four that we have coming in, I propose to go to Cabinet, and ask them to sell two, and to keep two.”

“We don’t have the level of traffic for four water taxis. They have cost us a little more than $460 million. Maintenance costs will be very high.”

At the same time, Warner noted that he intends to have the water taxis, which fall under the aegis of the National Infrastructure Development Corporation (NIDCO), work on weekends as well.

“There is currently no traffic on weekends. I intend to have them on weekends so that people can travel on weekends, and have excursions, but we have to be creative and we don’t need to have four water taxis to do this, we need two.”

In relation to the regularisation of “PH” taxis, or taxis which are not licenced to function as taxis under current regulations, Warner said the issue will go to Cabinet and consultations will take place. He alluded to efforts by “PH” drivers associations to regularise themselves.

“The PH taxi drivers are coming on board. I have to carry it to Cabinet. I am in the final stage of the preparation of the Cabinet note. I got objections from several people, but I will prepare the note, and put it out for public comment and let’s hear what people have to say.”

I shall also meet with the Maxi-taxis Associations in a few days, get their views, get all the stakeholder (views),” he said.

In relation to the appointment of persons to State boards such as NIDCO, Warner also said, “the Prime Minister (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) has received all the recommendations thus far. She has informed the Cabinet that she is looking at them and that she will make some final judegments as early as next week, I imagine.”

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4913243668_4a1a3beac2_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4912627591_a513a29f25_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4912617313_1ae820bed7_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4912608219_f2eebcac30_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4912596299_715c96a7e4_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4912582507_271c1348f5_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4913176428_7fe85a6245_z.jpg

anyone know of the status of the water taxi port in chauguanas, point fortin, and point cumana?

Sorry about the late response. I'm not too sure what is happening at the moment but i will keep a lookout for you.