The New Amsterdam ferry started taking in water yesterday morning as it was loading to leave for Rosignol, resulting in some commuters being delayed for over two hours. The MV Torani was moored at the New Amsterdam (NA) ferry stelling yesterday morning and was already loading to leave for the Rosignol stelling when someone noticed the water seeping in and alerted the captain. The NA fire tender had to be summoned to pump the water out.
Vehicles and passengers were then transferred from the boat to the pontoon, MV Sandaka.
But in the meantime passengers, including workers and schoolchildren aboard the MV Makouria which had left the Rosignol ferry stelling around 8 am, had to wait for over two hours for that vessel to moor at NA.
However, after the water was pumped out Torani went empty to Rosignol and later started working again.
Meanwhile the Makouria is currently operating only on one engine since the propeller from the other engine fell off and was lost in the Berbice River several nights ago. A part of the shaft was reportedly broken and that caused the propeller to fall overboard.
Stabroek News learnt that persons were hired to search for the part but have come up empty-handed.
Commuters are complaining that the vessel is working extremely slowly and takes almost one hour to get from one side of the river to the next.
According to reports, a propeller is already available to replace the one that was lost but the vessel is awaiting a tug to take it to dry-dock in Georgetown. Another pontoon, the MV Baramani would have to be sent to replace it. The Makouria was recently dry-docked for about six months, this newspaper was told. (Shabna Ullah)
