WITH work on the US$300 million shore- base facility at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) moving apace, NRG Holdings Inc has completed the historic dredging of the Demerara River channel in record time.

According to a post made on the Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, this recent expansion will allow the accommodation of larger vessels.

It was explained that with the initial deadline for completion of the first phase of the project set for December 2023, the Guyanese-owned consortium and the Jan De Nul Group are ensuring that work progresses smoothly to meet the target.

The post added that one of the Directors of the NRG Holdings, Azurddin Mohamed, on Monday inspected the ongoing land-reclamation works in the Atlantic.

Phase one of the project included the deepening, widening and dredging of the access channel, as well as the removal of wreckage. These have all been completed and the process of land reclamation has commenced, Team Mohamed’s said.

“We are [pleased] to report that a total of 30km at a 9m depth was dredged, starting from the shore base at Vreed-en-Hoop. Previously, the channel had a 5m depth at the lowest tide compared to 9m now. Further, the width of the channel was dredged to a whopping 100m which will now accommodate two vessels — one coming out and one going in,” the post said.

Phase Two of the project is set to commence in 2024.

According to the post, the multi-million-dollar port will feature an offshore terminal; fabrication, umbilical and spooling yards; a dry-dock facility; a wharf and berths, and administrative buildings, among other facilities spanning 65 hectares.

The port is being constructed by the Jan De Nul Group, a Belgium-based company which is one of the few companies in the world that specialises in offshore, marine, civil, environment, and project development.