Both the MV APT James and MV Cabo Star have been co-opted by Port authorities to bring back to Trinidad, as many of those who were stranded in Tobago following Sunday night's Panorama competition.
Commuters started gathering around 2 am today, outside the Port of Scarborough after reading in the T&T Guardian that the APT James may not take the full complement of passengers, because of a shortage of safety equipment aboard the vessel.
Many passengers told Guardian Media they did not want to take the chance again only to get booted off the sailing.
Hundreds were bumped off the early sailing of the APT James fast ferry on Monday, after the Port Authority officials tried to accommodate steelband players who had participated in Sunday’s night’s National Panorama Medium Band competition.
Hundreds of vehicles lined up at the Scarborough Port this morning, hoping to get on the APT James, which was expected to sail at 6:30 am today.
At the time of this story (7 am), the vessel was in the process of leaving port. Guardian Media understands not everyone was able to get on the APT James for this first sailing.
In addition, steelbands used in Sunday's competition by several steel orchestras were seen being loaded onto the Cabo Star—the cargo vessel—which officials say will sail from the Scarborough Port tonight.
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This is a developing story and will be updated as more details come to hand.