The ferry to service the north west which was built in India is due to arrive here in January, 2023, according to a release today from the Indian High Commission.
The ocean-going MV Ma Lisha ferry has been built by Indian company, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., under the Government of India’s US$12.77 million Line of Credit-cum-Grant project in India. The ferry will cater to the transportation needs of passengers and cargoes along the river line and coastal routes of the north western district of Guyana.
The release also said that ten employees including engineers, surveyors, technicians, crew, etc from the Government of Guyana’s Transport and Harbours Department will be travelling to Kolkata, India for training on the new ferry. They will be in India from 3-7 December, 2022.
The release said that the selected employees are: Victor Reid, Chief Mechanical Engineer; Cleroy Haywood, Captain; Orson Lindie, Mate; Matthew Burke, Mate; Paul Brotherson, Chief Engineer; Garfield Karl, Second Engineer; Courtney Melville, Ordinary Seaman; Randy October, Ordinary Seaman; Courtney McDonald, Surveyor of Ships; Collis Bethune, Technician (Electrical).
During a courtesy call on High Commissioner of India, Dr. KJ Srinivasa, discussions were held on the progress of the project and training/inspection for which the team was visiting India.
Meanwhile, two representatives of the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd are presently in Guyana, where they are coordinating final preparatory work for the arrival of the ferry and maintenance after arrival, the release said. During a meeting, the representatives briefed the High Commissioner on the progress of the vessel project and the cooperation being coordinated with the Guyanese authorities.
In October this year, nineteen Officers/Technical Staff from the Ministry of Public Works left for India for training on the vessel. The training covered the mechanical and electrical system of the new ferry vessel.
The ferry was launched into water in June, 2022 by Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works.