Sea trials for the MV Blue Wave Harmony are expected to conclude by the end of February, with a regularised sailing schedule to be published this Friday, Transport Minister Eli Zakour told the Senate today.
Zakour, responding on behalf of the Minister of Works and Infrastructure, said the vessel remains in its Sea Trial phase, which is scheduled to conclude at the end of February 2026, subject to the successful completion of all required operational and safety assessments.
As part of the final evaluation stage, night berthing exercises are due to commence tomorrow, February 25. Following that phase, the vessel is expected to transition into full commercial and passenger operations.
“A regularised sailing programme is being prepared and consistent with established practice. The schedule will be published this Friday, providing at least one week of confirmed sailings at a time,” Zakour said.
He referenced a February 21 public statement from the Port Authority which outlined that the vessel continues to operate under a structured, pilot-led sea trial programme aligned with international maritime safety standards, with sign-off for full passenger operations anticipated by March 1, subject to successful assessments.
The MV Blue Wave Harmony has been at the centre of delays affecting cargo shipments to and from Tobago in recent weeks.
During supplemental questions, Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman asked whether the schedule to be published would represent the permanent sailing arrangement or a temporary trial schedule.
Zakour replied that the regularised sailing programme would be published one week at a time.
Roberts-Radgman also asked the minister to indicate the expected port-to-port duration under the proposed schedule — specifically the anticipated travel time between departure and arrival.
Zakour said he did not have that information on hand but undertook to provide it in writing.
