Calamity was averted at the Scarborough port on Monday night after a runaway truck, loaded with concrete blocks, almost crashed into a car with a woman seated inside. The drama unfolded around 10.30 pm as ramp issues aboard the MV Golden Carrier cargo vessel caused damaged to at least three vehicles as they attempted to disembark.
The worst of the damage was suffered by the driver of a DAF flatbed truck whose air tank valve broke off, diesel tank was damaged and drive shaft damaged as he tried to exit the vessel.
The driver, who wished to stay anonymous, told Guardian Media he made three attempts to disembark but got stuck each time.
He said port workers instructed him to try reversing off the vessel, but this failed as well as his drive shaft got stuck on the ramp.
However, he said tragedy almost struck as he exited the vehicle to see what had happened.
“When it start to roll backwards, I put meh hand on my head because I done know everything behind me going and get mash up. But when I watch behind my vehicle ah see ah woman inside a car. That is the reason I run down the truck and mash brakes.
“If wasn’t for that, somebody woulda sure die tonight,” he said.
Despite being considered a hero by his peers for his swift action, the trucker said the incident has left him worse off.
His truck remained parked on the port and is likely to be down for at least three days as parts are sourced from Trinidad.
When Guardian Media visited the port around 11pm on Monday, several other trucks got stuck trying to board the Golden Carrier for its journey back to Trinidad. One other truck was parked outside the port as its diesel tank strap was burst while the exhaust pipe of a Libero wagon was reportedly also damaged.
Prior to Monday’s incident, the vessel received a glowing endorsement from Port Authority chairman Dr Rodney Ramroop, who described it as “one of the most superior” in the nation’s history. The vessel replaces the MV Blue Wave Harmony, which is being pulled from service by its owner after just six months to undergo maintenance and upgrades.
Trucker Caelron des Vignes, who was a vocal critic of the Blue Wave Harmony, echoed Ramroop’s sentiment when Guardian Media spoke to him on Monday afternoon after he sailed on the vessel the previous day.
Des Vignes said, “This is one of the best we probably ever had. The new Golden Carrier is a great vessel. It has proper capacity; it has coverage for your vehicles. It’s a more modern vessel — clean, well-equipped, spacious and luxurious.
“They did a great job in procuring this vessel.”
The Golden Carrier arrived in TT on Saturday and made its maiden voyage to Scarborough on Sunday as it commenced sea trials. The Golden Carrier returned to Trinidad around 11 pm on Sunday loaded with 140 vehicles, and arrived in Port of Spain eight hours later. Loaded sea trials continued on Monday as it departed Port of Spain at 2.08 pm with 191 vehicles aboard but no passengers.
The Port Authority said the Golden Carrier will begin commercial sailings soon.
