Urban Water Transportation
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| The Port of Spain Ferry Terminal- Photo by Esther Davis |
Brief History of the Ferry Service
In 1901 the Government of Trinidad and Tobago signed
a contract with Britain’s Royal Mail Steam Packet Company establishing the ‘Government
Shipping Service. Back in the 1900’s transportation was not as advanced as it
is today and the Piarco International Airport did not yet exist making the
shipping service the only means of transportation between these two islands.The government purchased their first vessel the SS
Belize in 1924 and this steam ship ran for years till 1929.
In 1930 the SS
Tobago was purchased and later that year the SS Trinidad. These vessels could hold
a total of 384 passengers and accommodate for 488 tons of cargo. These vessels
took over for the SS Belize and operated until 1957, approximately 27 years.
These vessels made a Port of Spain to Scarborough run on a weekly basis. The SS
Tobago and Trinidad were replaced by roll on roll off vessels after completing their
service. The ‘Scarlet Ibis’ and ‘the Bird of Paradise’ (Roll on/roll off
vessels) served for 25 years. A number of other ferries were introduced over
years.
Finally the introduction of fast ferries came in
2005 and Trinidad and Tobago got the Cat and the Lynx. The passenger capacity
of these vessels were an impressive 850 people compared to the capacity of previously
operated ferries. On 27th of December 2006, the Port Authority
commissioned the first National ferry renamed the T&T Express and 25th
July 2007 the second ferry was commissioned and named the T&T Spirit. These
vessels currently operate to this day.
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| Water Taxi Terminal located in Port of Spain |
In 2008, the use of sea transportation was no longer intended to only be used as transport between the two islands(Trinidad &Tobago) but now also as a means of transportation to and from the urban cities. The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago formally introduced the Water Taxi Service. The introduction of the water taxi was intended for citizens of Trinidad as well as Tourists to have an alternative means of transportation. The taxi service was geared towards operating along the North-South
Corridor (Point Fortin to Diego Martin) and along the
East-West Corridor. Persons can purchase tickets at any two of the water taxi terminals located at Flatrock, San Fernando, and at the Cruise Ship Complex, Port-of-Spain for only $15. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago plans for construction and future expansion of the service with plans to place terminals in the following locations, Chaguanas (Waterloo/Orange Valley), Point Fortin, and Point Cumana.
In 1968 the Government of Trinidad removed the railway passenger system and began the use of maxi taxis, buses and other motor vehicles as modes of transportation available to the public. According to (Rojas 1989) "..traffic congestion and the like, are problems currently present only to a minimum extent in the main urban areas in the Eastern Caribbean." But with the growing human population and increasing number of vehicles on the road ways over the last 48 years, these problems can no longer be referred to as minimum in 2016. Due to this the Government implemented the Water Taxi service with the intentions of reducing traffic congestion within the urban cities and this initiative has been successful to an extent.
The picture below shows the traffic congestion in the City of Port of Spain on a Saturday afternoon. It was taken at this angle because you can see the water taxi terminal located in the background of the image. It gives a contrast between both modes of transportation and the advancements of transport. The picture also highlights one of the problems that Rojas mentioned existing in urban areas and the water taxi service being a management strategy to help reduce and control the issue. Do you feel that the Water Taxi Service has assisted in reducing traffic congestion in urban areas? What do you think about the advancements in transport within the urban areas in Trinidad?
In 1968 the Government of Trinidad removed the railway passenger system and began the use of maxi taxis, buses and other motor vehicles as modes of transportation available to the public. According to (Rojas 1989) "..traffic congestion and the like, are problems currently present only to a minimum extent in the main urban areas in the Eastern Caribbean." But with the growing human population and increasing number of vehicles on the road ways over the last 48 years, these problems can no longer be referred to as minimum in 2016. Due to this the Government implemented the Water Taxi service with the intentions of reducing traffic congestion within the urban cities and this initiative has been successful to an extent.
The picture below shows the traffic congestion in the City of Port of Spain on a Saturday afternoon. It was taken at this angle because you can see the water taxi terminal located in the background of the image. It gives a contrast between both modes of transportation and the advancements of transport. The picture also highlights one of the problems that Rojas mentioned existing in urban areas and the water taxi service being a management strategy to help reduce and control the issue. Do you feel that the Water Taxi Service has assisted in reducing traffic congestion in urban areas? What do you think about the advancements in transport within the urban areas in Trinidad?
For more information on the history of Trinidad and Tobago's Ferry Service please check out the link below.
Reference:
"Human Settlements of the Eastern: Development Problems and Policy Options." Cities 6. no.3 (1989): 248-253.
"Human Settlements of the Eastern: Development Problems and Policy Options." Cities 6. no.3 (1989): 248-253.
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