MV Kimbia completes successful trial run

Sep 19, 2013 News

Leading North West public transport vessel, MV Kimbia is finally out of the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) dockyard after successfully completing a trial run last Tuesday.
The Kimbia docked at GNIC waterfront for repairs in January, leaving North West passengers with no other alternative, than to rely on the smaller vessel, the Lady Northcote. While the Kimbia was under repairs, North West residents paid a much higher price to private owned ferries, to transport their cargo to the area.
General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department, (TH&D) Marcellene Merchant said, yesterday, that the vessel currently sits at the Government wharf in Kingston, Georgetown awaiting a finalized date for its release.
“The vessel docked at TH&D wharf in Kingston on September 10. I will be meeting with TH&D officers tomorrow (today) to finalize the date for the release of the vessel,” Merchant said.
The MV Kimbia had undergone a painstaking repair process. The release of the ferry was delayed several times, due to incomplete maintenance works.
Maintenance workers met with a series of problems as it relates to essential mechanical and structural aspects of the boat.
Several months ago the vessel was moored for repairs at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) dockyard after the Company and TH&D entered into an agreement on November 5, 2012 for docking of the boat at a contract sum of $118M.
The MV Kimbia subsequently became a source of dispute between GNIC and TH&D over $79 million variation cost, which GNIC demanded for maintenance work carried on the boat.
TH&D had deemed the works as unauthorized, but the engineering company argued that the repairs were necessary to secure the seaworthiness of the boat.
TH&D was willing pay only $10.8 million worth of the variation but later agreed to $25 million worth of the payment for repairs done to the most ‘critical’ parts of the vessel.
Last August, Merchant told the newspapers that the maintenance crew had encountered additional problems with the tank, shaft and propeller of Kimbia‘s system.
She said that TH&D maintenance crew and GNIC employees were working to complete their portions of the work on the ferry.
She explained that upon conclusion of the repairs, an additional $20 million of the variation cost will be paid to GNIC.
Yesterday, the General Manager explained that a large fraction of the repairs is complete but “there are still a few final touches to be done to the Kimbia.”
The MV Kimbia is almost 40 years old, and has provided more than two decades of service to residents of the North West District.
In March, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Robeson Benn, and President Donald Ramotar paid a visit to the dockyard, where the vessel was undergoing repairs.
Benn told media operatives that there have been concerns about the age of the boat. He noted that this may very well be the last docking of the Kimbia. Benn said that coupled with the vessel’s age, and the severe marine conditions encountered by TH&D along the North West route, it would be unwise for the Kimbia to continue serving in the area. He said that the vessel will serve other areas when it is replaced by another boat.
TH&D is expected to procure a new vessel, the price of which amounts to approximately US$10 million. The TH&D General Manager had revealed that steps have already been taken to accomplish another vessel, by next year.

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MV Kimbia completes successful trial run

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