–so too is Supenaam’s
THE facilities at Parika, Leguan and Fort Island were among stellings that were rehabilitated last year under the Transport and Harbours Department’s (T&HD) 2013 capital allotment of $393M.
According to T&HD General Manager, Ms Marcelene Merchant, besides stelling repairs, the money was also used to dry-dock two vessels, as well as acquire spares.Work on the Parika stelling alone cost around $5M, and included the construction of additional lavatory facilities for passengers among other repairs that were effected.
Repairs undertaken at the Leguan stelling cost in the vicinity of $4.7M while Fort Island’s was to the tune of $3M. A spot of work was also done at the Bartica stelling, and that came up to $11.9M, Merchant said.
Other interventions in 2013 included the lifting and refencing of the scale at the Parika stelling; the modification of the one at the Supenaam stelling; and the effecting of repairs to the speedboat steps at Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop, and Georgetown stellings; the installation of collapsible steel rails at the Georgetown and Vreed-en-Hoop stellings to facilitate the extended night operation of speedboats; and upgrading the close-circuit network at the THD Goods Wharf on upper Water Street, Kingston.
The two vessels that were docked were the MVs Kimbia and Sandaka, to the tune of $143.7M and $52M respectively.
Merchant said the MV Bonasika, which plies the New Amsterdam to Rosignol route, was slated to be docked last year to the tune of $33.9M, but could not because of a defect in the docking gate.
She said plans are currently in train to have the said gate repaired so as to accommodate all the vessels due to be dry-docked at the New Amsterdam Stelling.
The MV Makouria, which was also slated for overhaul last year, will now be docked at E.C Vieira dockyard by month-end so as to effect those repairs, projected to cost in the vicinity of $135.9M. Also due to be dry-docked this year is the MV Malali.

Merchant estimates that the T&HD spent $150.9M in total last year on the acquisition of spares for its fleet of vessels. On this year’s agenda, she said, is the acquisition of even more spares, and the modification and repair of the Supenaam and Parika stellings and the Mazaruni dockage. Also on the agenda, she said, is the acquisition of a generator for use at Parika during “blackouts”.
T&HD is also mulling the acquisition of a number of fuel meters for its fleet-an investment of some $42M-in order to stem the reported pilfering of fuel and also to keep tabs on the actual fuel received from the fuel trucks, among other functions, Merchant said.

Increased revenue
Revenue-wise, Merchant said 2013 saw a decrease in expenditure, but an increase in revenue in the sum of $679M generated as against $583M the previous year. Expenditure for 2013 was pegged at $806M as against $827M in 2012.
In terms of traffic, she said the company saw an overall increase in the number of passengers, vehicles and cargo movement in 2013 as against 2012. The number of passengers for 2013 was 331,000, as against 282,000 the year previous, which equates to a 17 per cent increase.
The number of vehicles transported on the ferries in 2013 was 58,000 in 2013 as against 40,000 in 2012; a 44 percent increase and cargo transported was 125 tonnes in 2013, as against 113 tonnes; a 10 percent increase.
Total passenger revenue in 2013 was $89.5M as against $59.9M, total vehicle revenue was $227M in 2013 as against $168M in 2012 and total cargo revenue was $283 in 2013 as against $278M in 2013. Miscellaneous revenue was $79M in 2013 and $77M in 2012. There was an overall 16 per cent increase in revenue.