GNIC Head wants stricter dry docking regime for local vessels
Poorly serviced vessels pose a danger to Georgetown harbour
Stabroek News
December 15, 2006
Locally operated boats and barges that neglect to utilize proper dry dock facilities for repairs and maintenance pose a considerable danger to Guyana's maritime industry according to Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) Clinton Williams.
In a recent exclusive interview with Stabroek Business Williams said that a number of vessels that had been booked for repairs and maintenance at the GNIC dry dock had instead been serviced on the beach. "The option of the beach may be cheaper but it is dangerous. There is the obvious risk of poorly serviced ships breaking up and going down and blocking our channel for international trade," Williams told Stabroek Business.
According to Williams while such incidents did not occur frequently the fact that some vessels were opting for the use of beach rather than dry dock facilities meant that the danger of such eventualities persisted. "It only takes one or two incidents of vessels going down in the channel to affect the movement of vessels that sustain our international trade," Williams said.
The operations of the GNIC include marine engineering, shipbuilding and ship repair services and Williams disclosed that the company had signed an agreement with a Chinese contractor for the transportation of project cargo for the Skeldon Sugar Estate Modernization Project through the utilization of the Berbice trans-shipment station and the Providence Wharf. More than 50,000 tons of cargo have been transported to the Skeldon factory site.
According to Williams the GNIC had taken initiatives to conclude repairs and rehabilitation contracts with local fishing vessel and barge operators but that some operators appeared to prefer the option of the beach or their own small and limited dry dock facilities. Some fishing vessels are also sent to Suriname for repairs. Williams said that while the company would have wished to see more shipyard activity during the current year it was concerned with the broader implications of 'suspect" vessels using the channel. "Vessels that are serviced on the beach canot be properly serviced because there is an absence of the proper dry dock facilities to effect efficient repairs and maintenance. There is also the danger of the structure of the vessel being distorted when attemps are made to effect such servicing in the absence of a dry docking facility," Williams said.
The Transport & Harbours Ltd. vessel MV. Makouria in the GNIC dry dock
Williams told Stabroek Business that there had been incidents in the past of vessels that had not been properly dry docked "going down" in the river or the ocean. "Fortunately, the problem has not occurred within the channel.
Asked whether GNIC had addressed the problem with the authorities Williams said that the matter had been raised in the past and that the company intended to raise it again. "We intend to take up with the authorities, once again, the importance of ensuring that vessels using the Georgetown harbour have been properly dry docked and are and are certified accordingly, Williams said.
Williams told Stabroek Business that there was no question that the standard of maritime services including ship building and maintenance services in provided by the GNIC was high. "We have built vessels for the Caribbean in the past and we have plans to do it again. He explained that since increased volumes of international cargo had given rise to the necessity for larger ships the GNIC's expansion programme envisaged the completion of a new, larger floating dock. He said that the GNIC was "talking with a number of companies" with a view to the establishment of a new floating dock to accommodate larger vessels. The new floating dock is expected to cost more than US$3m.
Apart from its dry dock facilities the GNIC also provides general port operation services as well as engineering design, construction and project management services.