Battleship GDF Essequibo engines for $130m overhaul

Jun 24, 2009 News

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…Brazilian engineering firm contracted

(By Mondale Smith)

If all goes well the Guyana/Brazil bilateral co-operation could become even more fruitful with the signing of a bilateral defence co-operation agreement before year end.
As a precursor, the way to other forms of naval engineering co-operation has been further cleared through the signing of an agreement for the overhauling of the main and auxiliary engines of Battleship GDF Essequibo.
Yesterday GDF Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best, and Luis Antonio De Carvalho, Director of Manutest Engenharial LTDA, signed the agreement with the Brazilian engineering firm at Army headquarters, Camp Ayanganna.
GDF Essequibo is used for deep sea operations and with the overhaul the vessel will be better able to enhance defence security capabilities. Specifically it will help the force to maintain the Exclusive Economic Zone and the very important maritime integrity.
Commodore Best said the defence security enhancement project, an 18,000hrs overhaul, is funded by the government of Guyana out of the specially budgeted 2009 funds to the tune of in excess of $130m.
Aimed at adding about five more years to the life of the local battleship the engine overhaul works should be completed between 90 and 110 days, says Commodore Gary Best.
The rehabilitation will commence after the spare parts arrive in Guyana in a matter of weeks. The works will be executed in Guyana by engineers from the Brazilian engineering firm with assistance from engineer ranks of the GDF Coast Guard.
Manutest Engineering Firm Director, Barry Guard, said that his company is honoured to work with Guyana on the project and said it is hoped that this is just the beginning of future projects between Guyana and Brazil.
Best expressed confidence that the company has the capability to overhaul the local battle ship as the company also works with the Brazilian Navy which has sister ships of the class of GDF Essequibo.
Explaining how the company was selected without open tendering, the army chief said the overhauling activity falls under national security and did not necessarily have to go through an open tendering process.
Pointing to the financial and fiscal Acts of Guyana, Commodore Best said that the process did go through several US and some other Brazilian companies before the final decision was arrived at.
Commodore Best said that the vessel and its system are known to the UK and the Brazilian companies but noted that the UK companies were no longer available for the job because they no longer make ships like the GDF Essequibo.
As such the Brazilian company was selected. Brazil has sister ships to GDF Essequibo.
The agreement the army chief says offers a “win win” situation for local army engineers.
BEGINNING OF
MORE COOPERATION
Brazillian Ambassador to Guyana Arthur Correa Meyer said that the company is well experienced in the domain of ship engineering and assures that the service “will be well done.”
The signing, the ambassador said is another example of the fruitful co-operations that Guyana and Brazil share.
He noted that many other areas of co-operation are carded for the future regarding vessel related matters between the two countries and the Defence Forces.
He said too that there are already existing agreements of co-operation that will be signed “very soon at the ministerial level”. One may be executed at the official commissioning of the Takatu Bridge.
The bridge, he reiterated, is already completed and awaits a date pending the mutual availability of both countries’ Presidents and in the “very near future.”
He said before year end the two countries will sign a bilateral defence co-operation agreement after which a domain will be created for information exchange and staff training in specialised functions in addition to on going co-operations.
AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE
Commodore Best said during the period of repairs to GDF Essequibo, there will not be any off shore patrol by sea but the inshore patrolling will continue.
He noted too that the army will bridge the gap by conducting aerial reconnaissance using their aircraft and said “If something shows up that really requires some significant effort I’m sure the coast guard will meet that challenge.”
He assured that his army will not leave the EEZ unwatched as it will still continue ongoing maritime surveillance patrols.
Meanwhile, Commodore Best says the GDF has decommissioned a number of smaller vessels over the years but noted that the GDF does have another five extra patrol vessels in the Coast Guard unit used for inshore operations.

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