Chinese ferries not likely to be operational for at least six weeks - Benn

Chinese ferries not likely to be operational for at least six weeks – Benn

May 30, 2012 News

– Delay of material, contractor’s mismanagement of time blamed
– Vessels will not make a profit

Two new Chinese-made ferries are not likely to be operational in the Essequibo River for at least another six weeks. It will take at least that time for modification works to be completed on the Parika and Supenaam stellings, Essequibo River. A more realistic time may be in August.

Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn

Updating Kaieteur News on the status of workers, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn also blamed the poor management of time by the contractor, B.K. International, as a major cause for delays.
“We had anticipated that the ferries would have been able to go over to Essequibo to start training routes and thereafter we would have had an earlier date of the ferries between Parika and Supenaam,” Benn admitted.
The two ferries arrived in December, but modification works to the two stellings remained incomplete despite several deadlines being given, starting from February.
One of the major problems had to do with the concrete piles being driven. Some broke and had to be replaced and driven again.
“We have had to replace and drive new piles, but primarily we have not been able to get our contractors to extend hours to bring it to completion. Parika (stelling) is fundamentally finished. But there are a couple of (mooring) bollards to be put in place. We believe that in another six weeks all the construction will be finished.”
DELAY
More problems were also encountered with getting material and equipment to the worksite on time by B.K. International, Benn said.
“Fundamentally, B.K. is responsible for the entire contract. One of the things that we have to recognize is that the initial designs on which the contract was premised had to be changed because of the lifting capacity for the type of piles that had to be driven.”
To speed up the contract, another contractor – Dynamic Engineering – was brought in to help B.K. at the Supenaam stelling. But B.K. remains responsible for the contract at both locations. Engineers from the Ministry and its Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) are supervising the works.

File photo: Works to modify the Parika and Supenaam stelling will take another six weeks to be completed.

There had been concerns after B.K. was awarded the contracts, especially following problems with the new Supenaam stelling a few years ago. Shortly after that stelling was commissioned, there were issues with the support beam holding the ramp leading from the stelling to the ferry.
Millions more were spent to correct the defects with the final bill a whopping $500M. An independent investigation did not fault a single party.
The tenders submitted by B.K. to modify the Parika stelling was $240.1M, while the tender for the Supenaam stelling was $138M.
Regarding concerns over the estimated high costs that the ferries will be incurring, Minister Benn defended them, noting that the current two ferries working the Supenaam and Parika routes are “maxed out” in terms of capacity.
It is a fact, he said, that the vessels are larger than the current old vessels that the country has. Not only are the Sabanto and Kanawan larger, but they are equipped with modern, high speed Caterpillar engines.
NO PROFIT
“These ferries will also carry 60% more capacity, in terms of large trucks and numbers of cars. So that accounts for the high costs – the weight of the ferries, the large size and capacity and larger engines.”
Benn also admitted that the ferries when placed into operation are unlikely to make a profit at the current tariffs being charged by T&HD.
“If you recall, T&HD is a subsidised agency… it has to get support for fuel and other operational costs. Two ferries brought from Berbice and put to the Essequibo River…the capacity has been maxed out.”
The two vessels arrived late December as a “gift” from the Chinese Government and are said to be worth around US$14M ($2.8B).
Each vessel has three decks and can hold up to 800 persons, 44 cars, and 20 lorries and can travel at a test speed of 12.5 knots.
The ferries will continue to provide a crucial link between Essequibo Coast, Region Two, and the city. Rice and cash crop farmers are heavily dependent on ferries to transport their produce. They also provide a link to Wakenaam and Leguan, two islands in the Essequibo River.