Crown Mining Company has made attempts to remove the sunken dredge from the Mazaruni River and the salvager is expected to provide an assessment report by the middle of the week.
According to a GINA press release, Harbour Master Michael Tennant visited the location of the wreckage on Saturday, accompanied by the professional salvager Captain Leroy Benjamin, who is expected to provide a report soon.
Director of Crown Mining Mahendra Persaud explained that initial efforts were futile since the water depth would not allow any work at the time of the incident.
“When we arrived, the water was about eight feet higher than it is now and we started immediately from the front to seal the compartments. Out of the 34 compartments we managed to seal 27 the [remaining] seven are below the water. The speed of the water is about 30 miles per hour and at eight feet high you can’t stand there,” GINA quoted Persaud as saying. He added that the company will continue its efforts to remove the dredge.
Miner Ralph Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that it was reported to him by his workers that they saw persons “ripping cables” and working on and around the dredge.
It was reported on Sunday that the government had instructed that the sunken river dredge belonging to Crown Mining, which has been blocking the Mazaruni channel for the past four months, be removed immediately, even if it means destroying it.
Stabroek News has since learnt that the company was informed on Friday that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was very concerned about the length of time that has passed since the dredge sank and the company’s failure to have it removed.
A few weeks ago it was announced that MARAD and Crown Mining would have been intensifying efforts to remove the dredge. The company had met with MARAD to discuss possible solutions and MARAD had stated that over the past few months the company had been trying assiduously to reclaim the dredge from its current position.
However, because of the high tide and the location, it said, it was difficult to access and the salvage operation would require special equipment.
When Stabroek News spoke with Tennant a few days ago he had said that the company was currently “engaging the attention of a certified salvager” and had been at the site assessing the situation. “They have looked at the area and have also discussed a way forward,” Tennant had explained.
He said the next step was for the river to be at a safe level for the salvager to take his equipment into the area to move the dredge. “What they are going to do, is probably try to get it back afloat so that they can safely manoeuvre it out of the area,” he explained.
However, Tennant could not specify a time as to when this would be completed.
