The Good Hope Stelling on the Essequibo Coast was back in operation on Wednesday afternoon, according to Transport Minister Robeson Benn.
The drawbridge at the $450M stelling was damaged by a truck which was being driven onto the MV Torani last Thursday and personnel attached to the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) had been working to fix the structure.
The hinges on the bridge were broken under the weight of the truck.
Benn told Stabroek News briefly on Wednesday that the stelling was fixed around midday. Around 4pm yesterday afternoon, he said, it was in operation.
There are reports that the drawbridge fell into the Essequibo River while being re-attached. Sources on the Essequibo Coast told this newspaper that the workmen were experiencing difficulty in re-attaching the structure, while a T&HD source denied that it fell into the river. The source added that engineers attached to the department have reported that the structure was fit to withstand the stipulated loading weight.
The $450 million project has been mired in controversy from its inception and engineers Marcel Gaskin and Bert Carter, who probed the failure of the docking system in 2010, flayed both the supervisor VIKAB Engineng and BK International.
Their findings raised concerns about the integrity of the design and unauthorised changes leading to wasteful expenditure.
Meantime, this newspaper understands that plans are underway to fix the damaged ferry stelling on the island of Wakenaam, in the Essequibo River. A T&HD source explained that engineers have travelled to the island to assess the damage done by the ferry, which reportedly experienced a mechanical failure prior to hitting the stelling. Works are expected to commence within the next two months, he noted.
The southern section of the stelling was badly damaged two weekends ago when the MV Torani slammed into the wharf, uprooting several planks. The ticketing booth and the waiting room at the wharf were damaged beyond repair. Stabroek News was told that the repairs lie in the millions as piles will have to be driven into the area.
According to sources on the island, the ferry has been travelling to the island as per normal and has been mooring to the northern end of the damaged stelling.
