The new vessel that is being procured by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will have a capacity to hold almost 280 persons and 14 cars.
In a bid to procure another vessel to ply the Georgetown-North West route, the Government of Guyana last week signed a US$10 million loan with Exim Bank of India. While the vessel is expected to cost US$18 million, the other US$8 million will be provided via a grant from the Indian government.
A source from the Indian High Commission told Stabroek News yesterday that the vessel is expected to be 55m in length and 11m in width. It will also have a gross tonnage of 1,100dwt (deadweight tonnage) and a net of 700dwt.
The source said the boat is set to have a capacity to hold about 276 persons along with 14 Toyota sedan-sized cars or eight Toyota sedan-sized cars and two trucks.
Additionally, the source said, it will be equipped with a state-of-the-art Caterpillar engine that will allow it to ply the route much faster than the present vessels.
At the signing last week, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson noted that the Transport and Harbours Department was operating ageing vessels and the two newest ones are only allowed to ply the shorter routes.
The MV Kimbia is down and awaiting repairs and the MV Barima is scheduled to be back soon.
“The only vessel now that is plying that route is the Lady Northcote but unfortunately that vessel can only get to places like Kumaka and Port Kaituma once every two or three weeks and it’s a very small vessel,” Patterson said, while pointing out that as such there is a large demographic that is left unserved.
Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had stated that the new vessel will reopen economic opportunities since persons will be able to deliver their goods faster to the North West areas. “The introduction of this new ferry is expected to provide improved services for residents who commute regularly between Region One and Four,” he had said, while pointing out that it will have a number of social and economic effects since the new ferry will allow for there to be more efficient and faster transportation from Georgetown to the North West, which will allow for greater market access. “The economies can expect to be improved,” he said.