Latest update August 28th, 2026 10:26 AM
Apr 30, 2017 News
…tug pushes vessel, service unaffected – Terminal Manager (ag)
The M.V Canawaima that plies the Guyana/Suriname route is experiencing mechanical problems and is being assisted by a tug.
However, according to the Terminal Manager (Acting), Deyne Harry, the service is
unaffected and passengers have no need to worry.
Harry was contacted after a notice was placed in the Saturday edition of the Kaieteur News, informing the general public of the mechanical issues and the improvised method of utilizing the tug.
The reason for the notice, Harry said, was to inform the travelling public and not to have them show up and raise concerns over the tug being used.
“We don’t want to surprise them,” he said.
Harry told Kaieteur News that he was not at liberty to discuss the mechanical issues.
He however, noted that the parts needed have already been procured and engineers are working assiduously to get things in order.
The M.V Canawaima had experienced numerous mechanical challenges throughout 2016. This resulted in extensive delays and ultimately closure of operations for four working days.
Some of the major mechanical defects experienced last year were broken propellers; burnt engine heads; damage to pistons and rings; broken drive shaft and gears; a damaged gear box; and electrical malfunction which resulted in loss of steering.
Last year, also, the starboard engine was completely overhauled.
In 2016, the service transported 116,079 passengers with 57,663 listed as incoming and 58,416 listed as outgoing.
For last year also, the service would have transported a total of 12,487 vehicles – 6,309 incoming and 6,178 outgoing.
Passenger traffic decreased by 5.4 percent in 2016 over 2015. Similarly, vehicular traffic decreased by 4.3 percent.
Some of the projections for this year, as announced at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) End-of- Year Press Conference include the docking of the vessel and the replacement of two engines and auxiliaries.
It was projected, also, that traffic would increase by two percent.
The service will be looking to install body and baggage scanners, the installation of perimeter lights, the renovation of office spaces, washrooms etc. construction of reservoir (Fire fighting), construction of covered walkway, repairs to staff quarters, and the construction of replacement floating ramp.
The Transport and Harbours Department Incorporated was incorporated in Guyana on October 28, 1998. It is one of two wholly owned subsidiaries of the Canawaima Management Company J.V which was incorporated in Suriname. The other subsidiary is the Scheepvaart Maatschappij Suriname NV (SMSNV).
Canawaima Management Company is itself, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canawaima Ferry Services Inc. which was incorporated in Guyana.
The Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) was incorporated to handle the ferry service and terminal facilities on the Guyana side while SMS NV did likewise on the Suriname side.
The operations commenced on November 6, 1998.
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