– Good Hope stelling to be handed over shortly
GOVERNMENT officials are currently studying the design contract for the construction of two Roll-On Roll Off (Ro-Ro) ferries to be constructed by the Chinese government under a bilateral technical cooperation agreement programme.

This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett when asked recently for an update on the ferry project, which was inked at a cost of approximately $RMB63M or US$8M.

She expects that once the green light is given on the design contract, the focus will be on having the vessels constructed.

Initially, it was intended that the project should be completed in China, but a change in plans saw that responsibility being shifted to Guyana in order to help develop its shipbuilding capacity and cut costs.

The project aims to boost the ferry services in Berbice and Essequibo, and will also provide assistance to other aspects of river transport.

Meanwhile, a modern ferry stelling, which was constructed at Good Hope on the Essequibo Coast, by local contractor, BK International Inc. under the government’s Community Services Enhancement Programme (CSEP), is to be handed over soon, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn told the Chronicle recently.

The project is awaiting a final inspection, and once that is done and the green light is given, the contractor will hand it over to the government.

Officials say the new wharf, which extends some 400 feet into the Essequibo River, will be able to accommodate the mooring of two ferry vessels simultaneously. The stelling’s new location, as opposed to the current one at Adventure, is anticipated to significantly cutback on the time it currently takes the ferry to travel from Parika, on the eastern bank of the Essequibo River, to mainland Essequibo, on the other side of the river.

Farmers on the Essequibo Coast and in the Pomeroon River area, who are presently at a disadvantage getting their perishable goods marketed in a timely fashion to the city, as well as other mainstream businessmen are waiting with bated breath for the wharf to be put into operation.

The wharf is built on a reinforced concrete frame supported on land by 50 timber piles, while the portion which extends into the Essequibo River is supported by reinforced pre-cast concrete piles. The decking consists of varied sizes of pre-cast concrete slabs which are sealed and covered. There is also a metal protective handrail along the perimeter.

A floating bridge and a pontoon are also in place to allow for the mooring of the vessels.

Some 365 piles were utilised on the project, of which over 200 were to be driven into the sea, using the seaward side of the facility for access.

An administrative building and an asphalted car park completes the project.