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Superfast Galicia two days away

YUSUFF ALI Thursday, June 5 2014

THE saying is “better late than never.” With the MV Superfast Galicia, only time will tell if it will be better. As for being late, well, I would say by about seven weeks. But the wait is almost over. Galicia is due to arrive in Port-of-Spain on Saturday evening.

I have been keeping tabs on this passenger/Ro-Ro cargo ship (roll-on/roll-off ferry) for almost two months now and I can tell you that trying to get information about this vessel was like pulling teeth without anaesthetic.

Anyway, Galicia left Gibraltar under the Maltese flag just after 7.00 pm on Wednesday 28 May, heading for Port-of-Spain. Its estimated time of arrival (ETA) is a bit of a moving target but if you think of 6.00 pm on Saturday, you would not be far wrong.

During the early part of its journey, the ferry was actually picking its way through Mediterranean waters, averaging about ten knots. Later, as it got into the Atlantic, it built up its average to just around 17 knots, not far short of its maximum capable speed.

Galicia arrived in Gibraltar to have some work done on it at around 9.00 o’clock on the night of 7 February. It was flying the Spanish flag as it anchored at Gibdock where the work was to be done. I inquired about the nature of the work but the only information Gibdock would give me was that it was minor – nothing too major, as they put it.

But perseverance paid off and I managed to get some additional information later. I was told that the work was completed by Gibdock and the company was awaiting payment before releasing the vessel. They would not say awaiting payment from whom.

I was a bit surprised at how little the work cost. For the period from the day of the vessel’s arrival to March 20, there was an invoice for just over £22,300. Later, I was told that there was a second invoice for £54,450.

In my many conversations with various people in Gibraltar, I got the impression that Galicia could have sailed for TT earlier but that there might have been some delay in payment for the work done.

I may be wrong about this but I kept wondering why the vessel remained at Gibdock for so long if the repairs were only minor. I also wondered whether there would have been a third invoice for the vessel to be laid up doing nothing at Gibdock after the work was completed.

But all that is in the past and Galicia is now just two days away from Port-of-Spain. Before going to Gibraltar, it led quite an active life, ferrying passengers, vehicles and other forms of cargo around Spain’s Mediterranean ports, the last of these being Algeciras.

When it was built 11 years ago, its original name was MF Atalaya de Alcudia. But it was sold two years later and its new owners named it MV Superfast Galicia.

I am sure that when it starts its Trinidad/Tobago/Trinidad sailings, it will quickly become known simply as Galicia.

According to Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz, the ferry has restrooms for disabled persons as well as medical facilities. It would be useful for him to say exactly what these medical facilities are.

He is also quoted as saying that Galicia is being leased from a Spanish firm but did not give the name of the firm. From what I can gather, I believe that the firm responsible for operating the ferry is called Acciona Transmediterranea.

The vessel will no doubt arrive in Port-of-Spain in good interior condition. About 18 months ago, I travelled on a ferry from Trinidad to Tobago and back. I was most disgusted with the passenger areas of the vessel, with torn seats and mould everywhere.

I say let all of us who may travel on Galicia do our best to help keep it clean and tidy. If we do this, it would undoubtedly make the ferry crossing between Trinidad and Tobago and vice versa a truly enjoyable experience.

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