General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHB) Wayne Watson says that an over $40 million invoice has been submitted to the company responsible for the sand barge that crashed into the retractor span on Sunday September 4, 2022.
The invoice covers the cost of repairs and other works that needed to be completed over a three-day period.
During a brief telephone interview with the Stabroek News yesterday, Watson said that DHBC Legal Officer is in contact with the legal department of the company.
“There is a cost already established [for repairs and other works]. Our legal officer and the legal officer for the company had some prior discussion and we would have submitted the invoice and the necessary information for them to do the transfer of funds,” he said.
When asked whether he could furnish the Stabroek News with the quoted cost on the invoice, Watson refused. Instead, he said that the figure amounted to in excess of $40 million.
“I would want to give you that information when the money is in our account because you know these legal things, you’ll say something and then next thing somebody counter it. The process is still in the play, is not yet completed as yet but we’re have some bit of confidence that this matter will resolve shortly. But I will prefer you if you can give me some time let the matter resolve and then I can give you the information which will which can be deem as accurate,” he explained.
Watson also refused to release the name and address of the company that the sand barge was attached to. He said “…I don’t want to put myself on the spot. I’m trying to just ensure that we establish a relationship and when those transactions would have completed I can give the information.”
On September 4, a vessel bearing the name Desal 1 with two tugs, Alpha 1 and Chaka, slammed into retractor span 9. The vessel was transporting sand at the time and was heading north when it hit the bridge. The incident occurred sometime about 11:30 am and stranded person on both sides of the Demerara River for over seven hours.
The impact had pushed the bridge out of alignment causing the breakage of the connecting end post at spans 7 and 8. The breakage of the connecting post caused a transom beam to warp resulting in a slight opening. The accident also caused several buoys to burst.
At the time of the accident, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic and had been retracted to facilitate marine traffic.
The repairs had to be executed over the span of a few days with wright restrictions.
Over the years, several tug and barges has been crashing into the bridge, causing millions of dollars in damage.
On September 03, 2019, a tug and barge crashed into the bridge causing extensive damage. The tug, a Panamanian vessel, apparently drifted from Grove/Diamond on the East Bank Demerara and its crew belatedly issued a distress call. That caused major disruptions and repairs amounting to several million dollars. It is unclear if the company has repaid that money for the damage.
In March of this year, a tug and barge crashed into the bridge dislocating a pontoon anchoring chain. The vessel, bearing the name ‘Megan S’, was transporting logs at the time.
In December of 2020, traffic had to be restricted to minibuses, cars and lorries no heavier than 12 tonnes after a tug and barge transporting bauxite crashed into the high span of the bridge shifting it out of alignment. Motor Tug and Barge named “Rediston and Surtrans” operated by Dale Andrews Green, had collided with, and damaged several sections in the vicinity of the high span of the bridge.
