TRANSPORT & Harbours Department (T&HD) General Manager, Ms Marcelene Merchant, said Friday the agency will be seeking to acquire a reconditioned ferry to replace the Mv. Kimbia which presently plies the Georgetown to North West District route. She made the announcement during Public Works Minister Robeson Benn’s end-of-year press conference on the performance of the Works Ministry, as she outlined activities and projects her department will undertake in 2013.

She indicated that the department had a capital allotment of $413,999,632 in 2012 for dry-docking of three vessels and rehabilitation and enhancement of a few stellings.

The M.V. Kimbia had works done to the tune of $118,795,398., of which $95,000,000 is capitol. The M.B. Sandaka had works done to the tune of $52,004,425; the M.B. Barima had works done costing $103,771,450., for which $99,358,575 was capital.

Point-of-sale systems were installed at Parika and Supenaam stellings to enhance operations. Those cost $2,662,695.; and digital video recorders were installed at the Goods Wharf at Parika and Supenaam stellings to enhance security, while computerized weighing systems were installed at Supenaam and Parika.

Other works she noted saw the completion of the roll on/roll off facilities at the Parika and Supenaam Stellings, hence the two new ro/ro ferries — M.V. Kanawan and M.V. Sabanto — commenced operation on the Parika/Supenaam service on September 10th and November 6th, 2012 respectively.

The M.B. Bonasika was docked under current expenditure to replace the M.B. Sandaka that is presently slated to be docked, as other works on the Kumaka revetment project were completed, along with other minor repairs and maintenance to the department’s stellings and buildings.

The Thomas Lands Transport & General Sports Club bar was opened to the public in March, and is operating fairly well; while the upper flat is still being rented for functions such as weddings and dances.

Other notable projects were production of approximately 14,000 tonnes of asphaltic material for the year, while the total receipts garnered from all services for 2012 was $1,404,571,641., as against the total expenditure of $1,495,382,762., as the department received a $500M subsidy from the Ministry of Finance.

2013 is expected to see rehabilitation works done to stellings and bonds at Port Kaituma, Parika, Georgetown, Rosignol, New Amsterdam, Vreed-en-Hoop, Bartica, Wakenaam, Central Workshop, Marine Office and shed at Georgetown, Vreed en Hoop and Parika stellings; and acquisition of spares for vessels and ships, and installation of vehicular scale at Bartica, installation of point-of-sale systems at Bartica, Leguan and Wakenaam stallings, among other works.