Tobago Correspondent
An electrical problem aboard the cargo vessel Golden Carrier caused panic among some passengers on Monday as it travelled from Port-of-Spain to Scarborough.
Smoke was seen near the passenger area during the six-hour journey, prompting authorities to evacuate the area and cabins. A concerned passenger sent a voice note that was shared on social media.
He said: “Major issues here. The boat on fire. We on the boat, and the boat on fire.”
However, the Port Authority and passengers who spoke to Guardian Media said they saw no open flames. The authority said the situation was brought under control, with no injuries or damage to the vessel. Passengers were able to return to the area after the crew dealt with the problem.
Speaking to Guardian Media in Scarborough on Monday night, trucker Patrick Thomas said the incident lasted about half an hour.
“We didn’t see the smoke. We smell the smoke. It look like it was coming through the vent from the cafeteria.
“They come and start to knock on the cabin doors and tell us to exit and go on to the deck,” he said. Thomas praised the crew’s handling of the situation.
“It was really brief and professional. They didn’t sound an alarm or anything like that. I thought they would have sound an alarm. They just knock on our cabin door and say it is an emergency taking place,” he said.
The vessel docked in Scarborough at 7.30 pm and returned to Port-of-Spain overnight without incident.
