A total of 244,171 passengers travelled between Trinidad and Tobago on the inter-island ferries between January and July, statistics have shown.
“The management of the Trinidad and Tobago Inter-Island Transportation Company Ltd (TTIT) advises that for the period January 1 to July 31, the passenger vessels-T&T Spirit, Jean De la Valette and the Galleons Passage and the cargo vessel-MV Cabo Star transported 244,171 passengers and 89,116 vehicles to and from Tobago,” a release stated yesterday.
April saw the lowest number of total passengers who travelled between the two islands over the seven-month period, the statistics showed.
A total of 9,546 passengers travelled on the inter-island ferries in April.
The total number of vehicles that were recorded travelling between the two islands on the ferries in April was 5,406.
T&T recorded its first COVID-19 positive case in mid-March.
While the total trips recorded in April was the same as in May, the number of passengers who travelled between the two islands almost doubled between the two months.
In May the total number of passengers who travelled on the inter-island ferries was 21,836.
A total of 9,136 vehicles were also transported between the two islands in May.
The total number of passengers increased gradually from May to July.
In June a total of 33,009 passengers and 13,354 vehicles were transported between the two islands.
In July a total of 44,195 passengers and 17,507 vehicles were transported between the two islands.
July recorded the largest number of vehicles being transported between the two islands on the ferries over the seven-month period.
The month with the largest number of total passengers was February.
In February a total of 52,367 passengers were transported between the two islands.
Last year from January to August a total of 360,734 passengers were transported between the two islands.
The Jean De La Valette only operated from July 18 while the T&T Spirit operated only up until the end of July.
The TTIT advised that because of further restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 announced by Prime Minister Dr Rowley last Saturday the inter-island ferry service while continuing to operate on daily basis, but will do so at a reduced capacity.
Effective yesterday only 350 passengers will be allowed on either the Jean De La Valette and the T&T Spirit.
The number of passengers allowed on the Galleons Passage from now on is 200 and the passenger capacity on the MV Cabo Star will be 50.
“This organisation is committed to providing critical inter-island ferry operations; however the travelling public is hereby advised that only essential travel should be entertained at this time,” the TTIT stated.