SEVERAL new plans are on stream to enhance the Guyana/Suriname Ferry Service in 2017, Manager, Moleson Creek Terminal/ Canawaima Ferry Service, Deyne Harry, has said. In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Harry said that the M.V. Canawaima will be docked and the two engines and auxiliaries will be replaced with new ones.
Further, body and baggage scanners, and perimeter lights will be installed; office spaces and washrooms will be renovated; staff quarters will be repaired; a reservoir and walkway will be constructed and the floating ramp will be replaced.
In 2016 new barrier controls, a generator and the purchase and installation of wall fans in the passengers’ arrival and departure areas were installed on the ferry. Harry noted that the ferry service is also expecting to increase passengers’ traffic by two per cent. “Even though we have had a challenging 2016, we anticipate that 2017 will be better.”
During 2016, the M.V. Canawaima experienced numerous mechanical challenges which contributed to the poor performance of the Guyana /Suriname Ferry Service in 2016. This subsequently resulted in extensive delays and eventually closure of operations for four working days during 2016, Harry explained.
Harry explained that due to the mechanical challenges, the vessel was out of operation for a number of days. “The major mechanical defects the vessel experienced in 2016 were broken propellers; burnt engine heads; damage to pistons and rings; broken drive shaft and gears; damaged gear box; electrical malfunction, resulting in the loss of steering and the starboard engine was completely overhauled,” Harry explained. This setback led to a decrease in the number of passengers and vehicular traffic in 2016. The total number of passengers who travelled using the M.V. Canawaima amounted to 116,079 in 2016, as opposed to 122,746 in 2015, resulting in a 5.4 percent decrease. Similarly, the vehicular traffic saw a 4.3 percent decrease with 12,487 vehicles travelling in 2016 and 13,044 in 2015.
The manager explained that the decrease was due to the fact that there were continuous, multiple sailings outside of peak periods which increased operational costs, thus inspiring the decision to operate as traffic warrants. He pointed out that the official implementation of the Yellow Fever requirement on December 5, 2016, adversely affected the volume of traffic during the busy periods, especially during the Christmas holidays. However, this resulted in the ferry service benefiting from huge savings. “In 2016, the Canawaima Ferry Service had an income of $163.8M with $111.41M in expenditures; this led to a surplus of $52.4M,” Harry noted. (GINA)