Another tragedy at Supenaam Stelling, truck overboard

Apr 10, 2014 News

A number of businessmen conducting business on the Essequibo Coast and the North West District, Region One, are unsure whether their cargo (goods) would be rendered usable, after the 12-hour delay at the Good-Hope/Supenaam Ferry Stelling.
The delay followed a laden truck falling overboard early Wednesday morning.
Almost 35 vehicles laden with perishable cargo were left stranded on the ferry.

The truck going underwater.

Reports are that the China-donated boat, Kanawan, moored at the Good-Hope/Supenaam wharf around 1:35 am Wednesday morning. While the truck, GKK 9159, was attempting to disembark the Kanawan, it fell overboard after the back door of the ferry slipped open.
Husbard Thomas, a/k”Anto”, the truck driver who managed to scurry to safety, said that he managed to escape with minor injuries through one of the truck windows. He was trapped inside of the laden truck when it hit the water.
Thomas, a driver for the past 15 years, said that after the Kanawan had moored at the Good Hope ferry stelling, a Canter truck was the first vehicle to disembark the vessel. Five passengers followed. Thomas said the truck was the second vehicle to disembark but when he attempted to drive off of the boat his vehicle fell through the door.
Thomas said that one half of the door was not properly intact; the rope that usually functions as a secure source was not strapped unto the ramp.
Owner of the submerged truck, Delroy Griffith, said his truck is valued at almost $6.5M.
Meanwhile, Jagnarine Singh, a/k”Teddy”, of Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast lost some $2.5M in cargo that included 25 bags of feed, ten bags of onions and tomatoes and panel doors.
Acting Harbour Master, Michael Tennant, said that officials at Transport and Harbours Department who were subsequently informed about the incident will proceed with investigations into the matter.
The stranded vehicles which were left on the Kanawan for some twelve hours Wednesday were eventually assisted off the ferry.
Ronald Gomes, a Herstelling resident, who usually frequents the Essequibo Coast to transport chicken to shops and supermarkets in the Region, said that he had almost 3,000 pounds of chicken without the aid of freezers. He was

Truck driver Husbard Thomas ponders his next move.

uncertain whether his commodities would spoil.
Yesterday, the Transport and Harbours Department, in a statement of the incident, said that a loaded cargo truck went overboard approximately 02:15 a.m. while off-loading operations were being carried out on MV Kanawan at Supenaam Stelling.
The incident has halted operations.
“Currently, efforts are being made by the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) to have the truck salvaged in an effort to expedite the resumption of off loading operations.” Approximately, 20 trucks were left on board the vessel. “There were no injuries or casualties.
MARAD investigators, T&HD engineers and salvagers are on site,” the department said.
Wednesday’s incident is a reminder of 2010 when John Walcott’s truck fell overboard while reversing.
To date, Walcott said, Transport and Harbors has not compensated him.