AS part of monitoring operations in Guyana’s waterways, the Maritime Department has issued a total of 25 permits for various categories of companies operating in the oil and gas sector here, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson said when she addressed the National Assembly on Wednesday.

She said a total of four permits were issued for four drill ships, 19 for support or supply vessels and two for seismic vessels. Minister Ferguson said that the Maritime Department also conducted hydrographic surveys and support was received from the Government of United Kingdom in capacity-building.

She explained that there was also the formation of a National Hydrographic Coordinating Committee. “This is necessary since the main role of this committee is to discuss and ensure the implementation of planned policies, which will gear towards Guyana’s development.”
Further, the minister said dredging is another function of the Maritime Department and the MD (Motor Dredge) Steve N successfully removed approximately 254,100 cubic metres of spoils and dredged for 652 hours 55 minutes within the Demerara Main Ships Channel in the vicinity of various wharf facilities.

For Tides and Current Measurement, Minister Ferguson said that the department procured a new “Current Meter”, which aided the department to gather data from locations along the Demerara River. “We were advised that this exercise has not been done in four decades. An Automatic Tide Gauge was installed at the Leguan Ferry Stelling. This will record continuous Tidal Data,” Minister Ferguson told the National Assembly.

Another function of the department she said, is to ensure safety on the waterways and in this regard a number of continuous assessments and awareness campaigns were conducted with boat operators. Continuous training of staff was done during the reporting period.

In an effort to ensure full compliance as per IMO and ISO Standards, Minister Ferguson said the sum of $135M has been allocated for Navigational Aids, which includes Acquisition of Spares ($20M, Rehabilitation of Buoys and Beaches ($30M), Acquisition of Met Ocean Buoys ($35M), Acquisition of RTK GPS System ($15M) and the construction of concrete beacons at Waini Point ($35M). Additionally, she said that the sum of $285M has been allocated to ensure that the following vessels used for dredging will be rehabilitated; ML Allan Young ($40M), MT Setter – $30M and Pilot Launch (David P) – $15M. Also $200M will be utilised in 2019 for the procurement of spare for vessels.