Two weeks after being docked for rehabilitation work, the MV Kimbia yesterday returned to serve the North West District. The vessel departed from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) wharf in Kingston with passengers for Mabaruma.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday met with passengers as they prepared to depart.
Edghill, while apologizing for the inconvenience caused, said that the MV Kimbia was scheduled to go into dry dock for repairs since 2018. He explained that the entire bottom of the vessel was rotten and had to undergo emergency repairs.
He announced that the MV Barima which has also been docked for remedial works is scheduled to be ready for service by tomorrow.
The minister noted that Transport and Harbours Department employees worked around the clock to meet the deadlines and have the vessel ready.
The MV Kimbia was dry-docked on January 15 to undergo emergency works as a result of deterioration of the forepeak bulkhead plating. As emergency works continued, it was discovered that the deterioration was more severe and had extended to other areas, thus requiring more repairs. The vessel was last dry-docked in 2015 and was scheduled for a similar exercise in 2018 but this never materialised.
The suspension of service came approximately 18 months after the vessel was recommissioned by the APNU+AFC government to the tune of $488 million.
Rehabilitation works were executed by Courtney Benn Construction and the vessel was upgraded to provide better service to residents of Regions One and Two.
Last month, the T&HD signed a US$12.7M contract with an Indian company to commence the construction of an ocean-going passenger and cargo ferry for the North West District and other parts of the country.
The contract was awarded to India’s shipbuilding company, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRESL) at a sum of US$12, 733,403.
The vessel is expected to be delivered in the next eighteen months and will provide larger capacity for cargo, shorter travel times and safer and more comfortable services to commuters.
