Works Minister dubs new North West ferry a ‘game changer’ for Region One residents

The new $2.5B (US$12.7M) North-West ferry, which is expected to set sail to Guyana’s waters in the coming months has seen the government expressing satisfaction through Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill.

It was revealed that the new MV MA Lisha vessel which is being funded by the Government of India, will ply the Barima-Waini/ Georgetown route.   At a recent press briefing at the ministry’s Kingston, Georgetown office, Edghill noted that the vessel is designed to operate in specific conditions.

The minister disclosed that the MV MA Lisha- from the native Warau language meaning ‘friendship,’ is being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited to facilitate special features to mitigate challenges faced by travellers. “This is a boat that is being built from scratch, designed for the conditions that it has to operate in, with specifications to meet the needs of the people in Region One,” Edghill said.

Edghill pointed out that the 69.55-meter-long vessel, with a beam of 13.5 metres; its width at its widest point and a draught of three metres, will cut travel time by 50 per cent. It has a speed of 15 knots powered by two caterpillar engines and twin disc gear boxes, with the capacity to carry 250 tons of cargo. Further, it has a passenger capacity of 294, which means the boat can actually carry 276 revenue paying passengers and 18 crew members. The public works minister noted that in addition, the vessel has an endurance of 500 nautical miles and a displacement of 1,730 tonnes. It also has the capacity to carry 14 sedan type vehicles along with two trucks. Business people, and others who ship produce from and into the interior will now be able to get containers 10 ft by 10 ft since the vessel has the capacity to carry 10 of those size. The issue of spoilage will be significantly reduced or totally eliminated since the boat also has a refrigerated cargo capacity and a cold room storage that will accommodate 43.98 m3 of merchandise.

It was revealed that the front of the vessel has the roll- on, roll -off facility, which will enable it to discharge and board cargo at its port immediately without the use of a stelling. It also has the side boarding capacity. “This is a real, real game changer and life changer for people in the North West,” Edghill said.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Transport and Harbours Department, Rosalinda Rasul also joined in clarifying how the ferry is fit for its purpose. “One of the most important things, when you’re selecting a vessel for any operation, is its fit for purpose and functionality. Cargo operation it is not exactly a smooth operation like in some other industries; it is rough, so, if you had a sleeker more modern, cruise liner vessel then we were going to get criticised for investing in a vessel that is not fit for its purpose or intent, so, it is necessary for persons to appreciate the vessel, its structure and most importantly its functionality,” she said.

Rasul noted that when the boat was launched in the Hooghly River, India on June 15, it was 70 per cent complete, the minister said.  Further works including plumbing are expected to continue. The Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Chairman of the Board of Directors revealed that once those works are completed, two teams from the Department will be sent to India to undergo training.  She noted that the team has a complement of 10 persons each who will be operating the boat. These will comprise the captain and mechanical staff.

Further, the mechanical team will engage with the original equipment manufacturers to be able to get all of the first-hand knowledge to maintain the vessel over time. However, for the MV MA Lisha to travel to Guyana it will be placed on two semi-submergible barges for the 45 to 60 days journey.

Additionally, the boat will be tested and verified by the class society of shipping to ensure its quality, safety and seaworthiness. The American Bureau of shipping is being used by the ministry to certify the class society