THE newly re-commissioned MV Kimbia is bridging the gap between Georgetown to Region One (Barima-Waini) by providing a reliable service.

The vessel, which has been in existence for more than 38 years, was renovated at a cost of $488 million and has been in service for 20 years.

This ship was re-commissioned on May 2, 2019, and plies the route from Port Georgetown (Transport and Harbours Department [T&HD] Goods Wharf on Water Street) to Kumaka, Region One.

Previously, this route was serviced by both the MV Lady Northcote and MV Barima. The MV Kimbia had been out of operation since 2015.

This vessel is captained by Gordon Kingston, who has about 30 years’ experience and comes with a wealth of knowledge of the happenings at sea.

With the re-commissioning of the vessel, which is now outfitted with a brand new complete marine-propelled engine and electrical wiring system, the journey has been reduced from 28 hours to 20 hours.

The MV Kimbia has all modern facilities, including flat-screen televisions, new seating accommodation, water dispensers, and washroom area with a shower for both men and women, refuse bins and other amenities.

The journey on MV Kimbia
The voyage was undertaken by this reporter and photographer Delano Williams; it started at about 19:30hrs on June 14, 2019. The vessel arrived at its destination on June 15, 2019, at around 16:00hrs after stopping at the T&HD Wharf at Morawhanna to offload goods and some passengers.

The overnight journey on board the vessel was quite an experience. We were accommodated in the captain’s cabin, which is outfitted with a flat screen television, a built-in cot and a couch, a toilet and bath.

The captain and his crew of 13 were very cooperative and ensured we were chaperoned around the vessel at all times and catered to our needs on board the vessel.

This journey is not an easy one and is undertaken by villagers of Mabaruma, business people taking up large quantities of goods and people from other riverine areas who are accustomed to the overnight trip.

The ship was laden in its cargo hold according to its certified capacity and the goods on board included, onion, garlic, potatoes, rice, cooking gas, mattresses, watermelons, ground provisions, frozen chicken, cooking oil, toilet paper, household items and crates of other goods.

The passengers included men, women, children and a puppy. Most people boarded the ship days before to secure a spot to tie their hammocks and to get good seats.

Even though there is the seating area, some passengers opted to get comfortable by using their own mattresses and making their beds on the floor of the ship.

The MV Kimbia left the T&HD Goods Wharf at Water Street, Georgetown, after which it entered the Demerara River into the Essequibo River, then into the Atlantic Ocean. The ship sailed to the Barima River then to Waini Point into Mora Passage, then into the Aruka River; its journey then ended at the Kumaka waterfront.

Passengers’ take
The Pepperpot Magazine spoke to passengers, who commented on their journey via the MV Kimbia.

“They call me ‘Clive,’ but my real name is Henry Matthews. I am a resident of the city, but I do business at Kumaka,” one resident said. “I take up clothes, cosmetics and other goods such as ground provisions to sell at Kumaka Market. It is not my first trip, I have been going to that location for the past 47 years, but this is the first trip since the ship was renovated. I think the service is better and I will pass the overnight trip by reading and see how I can make myself comfortable, given the confined space on board. I am used to this kind of travelling, so I will overcome.”

Another passenger, Maria La Rose, stated that she is a seasoned traveller on the vessel. She was with her three-year-old daughter and they were in their hammock in the seating accommodation area of the ship.

Meanwhile, Edward Grant told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is his very first time on the vessel and he was trying to cope. He had a hammock like most passengers and was going to Mabaruma to visit relatives and to see the place.

“I am not pleased about the waiting time, though. I was told to come to board the ship for 13:00hrs on June 14, 2019, and the boat left until 19:30hrs that night; so the time you have to spend waiting is very tiring for me,” he said.

Grant was expected to return via the MV Kimbia on June 22, 2019.

Anthony Singh, who hails from Berbice, reported that it was his third time on the ferry and that he goes up there to do business and usually stays for some time.

“I does take up some goods, fuh do meh lil hustle and I sit here and will pass the time by watching a few movies, plus the boat do up nice and so,” Anthony Singh said.

Julia Antonio, who was travelling alone, quickly made friends with her fellow travellers on board the vessel and was up for a friendly chat.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she was not feeling seasick, because she is accustomed to the long boat journey to her hometown of Mabaruma.

“I find since the boat fix up nice, things are better to make us, the passengers, comfortable and it is good so far, since I can watch television in a comfortable chair,” she said.

Doodnauth Singh, a first-time passenger, stated that the journey was comfortable for him, given the boat’s renovation and from Mabaruma he is headed to Port Kaituma.

“This journey wasn’t bad at all … I am happy to reach my destination,” he said.

A few others complained about the poor service and the waiting time, but one man, in particular, said that in his travels via the various vessels for more than 20 years, nothing has changed.

The man at the wheel
The man at the wheel of the MV Kimbia, Captain Gordon Kingston, has more than 30 years’ experience at sea as a captain on the various ferries of the T&HD.

He oversees the crew of 13 and the journey from Port Georgetown to Mabaruma, Region One, is calculated and always on course.

Kingston said that from the time the ship leaves, it depends on several factors such as the tidal conditions, the wind and water current for the arrival time to be known.

The captain noted that the ferry is inclined to the elements of travel and almost every crew member can control the ship with his supervision.

At the time, an ordinary seaman was at the wheel, but the course of the ship was calculated via the Global Positioning System (GPS).

“I would set the course with the use of the GPS for accuracy on speed over ground and speed of the vessel, everything is indicated on satellite. The course is (345); 70.1 nautical miles, given we are laden to the certified capacity, the speed is about right,” Kingston said.

In the event of an emergency and for motion sickness on board the vessel, the captain stated that all crew members are first-aid trained and can deal with certain situations if the need arises.

“This job is about all hands on deck and it is a team effort to keep this ship sailing and all passengers safe from one point to another,” Captain Kingston said.

Life on board the MV Kimbia
The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to a crew member, the Third Engineer, Jemel Bourne, who related that his job is to ensure the engines are working well during the entire journey and to assist around the ship.

“We have three engineers in total on board the ferry and we work on a shift system, that is, a four-hour each, then you can get a couple of hours of rest to go at it again. Being on board this ship is not easy, you have to like it because you eat, sleep and work on this vessel, as a way of life and no matter how long you are at sea, when you reach a certain point you tend to get seasick,” he said. “I have been at this job as an engineer for the past 12 years, but this is my second time at sea and I can never get used to this kind of travel via the ferry, because when the boat is rocking as it cuts through the waves, it will rock from side to side, causing you to feel sick.”

He stated that life on the vessel entails long hours of work and ‘ship life’ is tough, but it is a home away from home and the crew members have to cooperate as one unit to keep the ship sailing.
Bourne noted that the job is challenging as well, since some passengers do not adhere to basic safety rules on board the vessel.

“Some people not accustomed to keeping things in place, they leave the ship really dirty; we have to clean up after this trip ends and it is not a pretty sight; you will be amazed to see what some people leave behind this journey and it is unfair to us,” Bourne said.

He pointed out that they try to make passengers as comfortable as possible, since the journey is so long but some folks are just not willing to cooperate. With the renovated MV Kimbia, Bourne said she is going much faster and is in a better shape altogether, but they need the cooperation of passengers to maintain the vessel.

“Some folks come two days to board this ship before it set sail and they tie their hammocks all over this boat and do not care if they tamper with the electrical and pipe systems; but we work with the resources we have as a team,” Bourne said.

T&HD Marine Section
The Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Marine Superintendent Derrick Erskine told the Pepperpot Magazine that as part of his job description, he is responsible for the operation of all vessels of T&HD.

He has to ensure all vessels are adequately manned and are efficiently run, so that they can satisfy their mandate which is providing reliable and efficient ferry service to all riverain areas and outlying regions.

Erskine added that T&HD has seven serviceable ferries and they are: the MV Sabanto, the MV Kanawan, the MV Malai, the MV Canawaima, the MV Kimbia, the MV Barima, the MB Sandaka; and the Lady Northcote, which is down right now in dry dock.

“I have been in the profession for more than 40 years, but I was in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard originally and retired as Lieutenant-Commander of the Coast Guard.

I have been at T&HD for the past four years. I find it good you know and it is no different from the army, just have to apply yourself. It is just some disciplinary actions vary. Other than that, it is quite the same for me,” Erskine said.

He is the only marine superintendent who is in charge of nine captains and the ferries.

“As long as you have a love for the job, the sea, you will find a way to cope because, at sea, it is not an easy job, it is challenging and calls for a lot of dedication. If you like travelling, then go for it, you gain experience and it teaches you the way of life because you have to live, cook and feed yourself on board. There is no mommy and daddy to take care of you there and it makes you a better person. It brings you together cohesively because it brings people together of different walks of life and you interact with them and work as such, it brings about camaraderie,” Erskine said.

He stated that the MV Kimbia was renovated about a month ago and the travel time has been from 18 to 20 hours, depending on the tidal conditions from Port Georgetown T&HD Goods Wharf to Morawhanna then to Kumaka, Region One (Barima-Waini).

“She is more comfortable and carries more load (cargo), she takes more cargo than passengers plying that route because the area is very remote. The fare is $2000, while airfare is $20,500 one-way. People utilise the ferry because it is economical but challenging for coastlanders, but riverine people are accustomed to the fatigues of the long hours of river travel,” he said.

Erskine added that in the army you have to be away from home a lot, but with T&HD he is at home more now than he ever was back then.