The MV Kanawan, one of the two roll-on/roll-off ferries gifted to Guyana by China, made its first commercial trip from Parika to Supenaam on the Essequibo River yesterday.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the vessel travelled between the two locations with a total of 46 passengers, nine trucks, three canters and two cars on board.
General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Marclene Merchant was quoted as saying that yesterday’s voyage was long awaited. “A lot of commuters were awaiting the operation of the two new ferries… these boats will be making initially one trip each per day…this will significantly improve the traffic destined to and from Wakenaam, Supenaam and Parika,” Merchant told GINA.
Whilst the maiden voyage did not see the boat utilising its full capacity, Merchant said that by tomorrow [Wednesday] this will be realised.
“Kanawan will provide a straight shuttle from Parika to Supenaam…MV Malali will be making one return trip from Parika-Wakenaam-Supenaam per day,” Merchant said.
According to GINA, each vessel has a seating capacity of 800 and a decking capacity of 20 lorries or 44 cars, along with a modern VIP lounge.
Recently, crew members embarked upon navigational training exercise to acquaint themselves with the ‘on and off’ loading of the new vessels. On Saturday last, the crew made a test run with 52 passengers and a total of 24 vehicles, ranging from trucks to cars, GINA stated.
When the two vessels were handed over by the Chinese to the government through the Works Ministry in January, Chinese Ambassador Yu Wenzhe had stated, “These two vessels which will be used across the Essequibo River, will greatly facilitate the movement of people and commodities…this in turn will greatly facilitate an improved livelihood of the people and the production of agriculture and other goods on both sides of the river.”
The boats are similar to the MV Makouria class vessels and of the size of the MV Canawaima, which plies the Guyana/Suriname route, GINA stated.
The MV Kanawan and MV Sabanto were gifted to Guyana by the Chinese Government in December 2011, but their sailing was delayed in order to accommodate modifications to the stellings at Parika and Supenaam. The two vessels were expected to be made operational earlier this year but several additional delays, including a sunken pontoon at the Parika facility, saw their operation being further delayed.
Two years ago, the government had announced plans to boost river transportation services along the Essequibo River with the procurement of the two Chinese built vessels. The two governments entered into an agreement in which the two roll-on/roll-off ferries valued at US$14.4 million were made available.
Amid criticisms regarding the contracting firm BK International, which built the controversial Good Hope ferry stelling, it was announced that docking facilities at Parika and Supenaam, were expected to be modified to accommodate the vessels. This was done at a cost of $240.1 million and $138 million, respectively.
