MV Kimbia back in service

Oct 23, 2013 News

North West residents are breathing sighs of relief that the region’s leading passenger/transport vessel MV Kimbia, has returned to its regular service.
The MV Kimbia docked at Guyana National Industrial Corporation’s (GNIC) waterfront in January, after the Transport and Harbours Department, (TH&D) entered into a contract with the engineering company for the complete restoration of the vessel.
The docking of the ferry left North West passengers with no other alternative than to rely on the smaller vessel, the Lady Northcote for several months.
In addition, a number of persons paid a much higher price to privately-owned ferries, to transport their cargo to the area.
Speaking with this newspaper yesterday, General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department, (TH&D) Marcellene Merchant disclosed that following a successful trial run in mid-September, the vessel started its regular operation on October 8.
“The Kimbia has already completed a trip to the North West region, the vessel is currently docked at the Kingston wharf, where it is being loaded for another trip scheduled for October 27.
Ms Merchant notes that the vessel has been revamped to provide an improved service, “The vessel is in good shape to ply the route now given the prior hiccups and delays… the Kimbia is likely to serve until the department procures another vessel.”
The MV Kimbia underwent a painstaking repair process. The release of the ferry was delayed several times, due to incomplete maintenance works.
Additionally, maintenance workers met with a series of problems as it relates to essential mechanical and structural aspects of the boat.
Following the mooring of the MV Kimbia at GNIC dockyard, a contention developed between TH&D and the engineering company. The two entities entered into an agreement on November 5, 2012, for docking of the boat and the facilitation of maintenance works at a contract sum of $118M. However, GNIC demanded a $79 million variation cost for additional maintenance works on the vessel.
TH&D had deemed the extra works as unauthorized, but the engineering company argued that the repairs were necessary to secure the seaworthiness of the boat.
TH&D was willing to pay only $10.8 million worth of the variation cost but later agreed to $25 million worth of the payment for repairs done to the most ‘critical’ parts of the vessel.
The MV Kimbia is almost 40 years old. In March, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Robeson Benn, noted that concerns had been raised about the age of the boat. Benn said that coupled with the vessel’s age and the severe marine conditions encountered by TH&D ferries along the North West route, the MV Kimbia may have to be replaced.
TH&D had already taken steps to procure another vessel. The price for a ferry of this type would cost approximately US$10 million.

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MV Kimbia back in service

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