THE two new roll on/roll off ferries, granted Guyana by the People’s Republic of China, have arrived in the country and were inspected at the Georgetown Ferry Stelling yesterday by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, Director General Elisabeth Harper of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and other officials. The vessels, Sabanto (Beautiful One) and Kanawan (Big Canoe), together worth US$14.479M, equivalent to G$2.925 billion, are named in the language of the nation’s first settlers and expected to become operational in the first week of February 2012.
The modern boats each has a seating capacity of 800 as compared to the ones currently in use that cater for only 350 passengers. The vehicles capacity is 20 lorries or 44 cars in comparison to 15 and 25 for their predecessors.
Trial speed for the gifts is 12.5 knots as against 11 knots for those previously in use, prompting Minister Benn to remark that there should be an improvement in the efficiency and operation of the boats.
They have standard ‘Caterpillar’ engines and, because the electronic equipment is European and American made, there is room for flexibility with respect to the sourcing of spares.
Benn toured the Sabanto with Marine Superintendent of Transport & Harbours Department (T&HD), Captain Garfield Halley and representatives of other Government agencies.
The purpose of his presence was to welcome the two vessels that took some 50 days after their construction in China to arrive here, Benn said.
“The two vessels, as was promised, are here and it says much about the partnership we have with the People’s Republic of China. We are realising the type of cooperation between the two countries,” he added.

Enormous transformation
According to him, the ferries represent the enormous transformation in riverine transportation in the country, as the last such intervention was made in 1959.
“About 52 years later, we are having another dramatic change in river transport. This is tribute to the engagement of the PPP/C Government in these matters,” he boasted.
Benn thanked the Ministry of Finance, the Maritime Administration Department, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Relations, among other agencies, for the work done.
A number of Chinese experts are here for 40 days and, over the next two weeks, they will work on certain adjustments and modifications, along with river and sea trials of the vessels. Thereafter, there will be three weeks of training for the 10 national crews on each ship.
The ferries were, earlier this month, anchored in Trinidad, awaiting completion of the Parika Stelling overhaul that is to make way for their accommodation.
The contract for the design and construction of the two vessels was inked in December 2010 by Benn and Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, Mr. Huang Shaowen, who acted on behalf of Tongfang Jiangxin Shipbuilding Company Limited.
The pact followed a grant agreement between the Governments of Guyana and China, in November 2009.
The ferries will complement the current fleet operating in the Essequibo River, improving the capacity of marine travel from Parika to Supenaam and optimism is high that there will be more trips between the islands, particularly Wakenaam and Leguan.