MV Kanawan makes first commercial trip
Georgetown, GINA, September 10, 2012 -- Source - GINA
Water transportation from Region Two to Three has been taken to another level as the new roll-on/roll-off ferry vessel ‘MV Kanawan’ today made its first commercial trip from Parika to Supenaam, with a total of 46 passengers, 9 trucks, 3 canters and 2 cars on board.
The MV Kanawan and Sabanto were gifted to Guyana by the Chinese Government in December 2011, but their sailing was delayed in order to accommodate modifications to the stellings at Parika and Supenaam.
Vehicles loaded on the decking plate of MV Kanawan
General Manager, Transport and Harbours Department of the Public Works Ministry, Marclene Merchant said that today’s voyage was long outstanding.
“A lot of commuters were awaiting the operation of the two new ferries…these boats will be making initially one trip each per day…this will significantly improve the traffic destined to and from Wakenaam, Supenaam and Parika,” Merchant said.
Whilst the maiden voyage did not see the boat utilising its full capacity, Merchant believes that by Wednesday this will be realised.
“Kanawan will provide a straight shuttle from Parika to Supenaam…MV Malali will be making one return trip from Parika-Wakenaam-Supenaam per day,” Merchant said.
Some of the passengers onboard MV Kanawan during its
maiden voyage from Parika to Supenaam, September 10,
2012
Each vessel has a seating capacity of 800 and a decking capacity of 20 Lorries or 44 cars, along with a modern VIP lounge.
Government invested $240.1M and $138M for the construction of docking facilities at Parika and Supenaam respectively, to accommodate the vessels.
The Governments of Guyana and China entered into an agreement to provide Guyana with the two roll-on/roll-off ferries valued at US$14.4M.
The MV Kanawan on its voyage to Supenaam
Recently crew members embarked upon navigational training exercise to acquaint themselves with the ‘on and off’ loading of the new vessels.
On Saturday last the crew made a test run with 52 passengers and a total of 24 vehicles, ranging from trucks to cars.
At the transferral of the vessels in January to the Public Works Ministry, Chinese Ambasador Yu Wenzhe had stated, “These two vessels which will be used across the Essequibo River, will greatly facilitate the movement of people and commodities…this in turn will greatly facilitate an improved livelihood of the people and the production of agriculture and other goods on both sides of the river.”
The boats are similar to the Makouria class vessels and of the size of the Canawaima that plies the Guyana /Suriname route.
