New Delhi/Georgetown (thestates.news)|Guyana received the new North West ferry – the MV Ma Lisha, designed and built in India by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd of Kolkata. Guyana has termed the ferry a “game changer” for travel and agri production. The 70-metre-long vessel, built with a US$12.77 million Grant/Line of Credit from the Government of India, was commissioned on Friday as Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is visiting Guyana.
Guyanese Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, speaking at an event at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown to commemorate the arrival and commissioning of the vessel, said the vessel will be a game changer capable of transporting more people and goods at a faster rate.
“The people of Region One would now be able to get home faster. This boat is a faster boat, we will be reducing travel time – sometimes between six to eight hours,” Edghill said on Friday.
He said the vessel has the capacity to carry nearly 300 passengers, 10 containers and several vehicles. The Public Works Minister said he believes that a greater volume of produce can be transported out of Region One, encouraging farmers to expand production in the Barima- Waini region. He also said that the boat’s large capacity means more goods can be taken into the region, thereby reducing the cost of goods sold there.
The vessel, with a speed of 15 knots, also boasts a cold storage area that is available for the storage of goods. Edghill said it can reduce the amount of goods that may be spoilt during transport. “MV Ma Lisha is a game changer in water transportation in Guyana,” he said.Edghill added that Guyana’s ports will undergo much-needed expansion to accommodate these new vessels.
The vessel reached the Guyanese port of Georgetown on April 6, completing a journey of over 11500 nautical miles. MV Ma Lisha is a modern Ocean-going Passenger-cum-Cargo Ferry that will operate from Georgetown to the North West District of the Caribbean nation. The Ferry, built in accordance with international standards, will cut the travel time between Georgetown and the North West District by nearly half. It is designed to carry a load of 250 tonnes that will include 294 passengers, 14 cars, two fully-loaded trucks and 10 containers. It also has a refrigerated area to carry perishables.(UNI)
India-designed and built modern ferry received in Guyana
