Guyana-Suriname ferry service resumes after ban on MV Canawaima lifted

…stranded passengers prioritised for transport

Nearly one week after the suspension of the ferry service between Guyana and Suriname, the MV Canawaima vessel was cleared by Dutch maritime authorities to resume operations on Friday. Last Saturday, the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) had temporarily suspended the Guyana-Suriname ferry service, ordering that the MV Canawaima, which plies that route, to undergo repairs immediately instead of waiting until the scheduled dry-docking in the coming months. This move had left scores of passengers stranded in both Guyana and Suriname. However, following a series of successful technical inspections and adherence of specific requirements of MAS, the ferry service was given clearance to resume operations on Friday – a move that was welcomed by the Guyana Government which indicated that the stranded passengers would be prioritised. “The service between Guyana and Suriname will continue according to its regular schedule. The top priority today will be transporting stranded passengers,” the missive detailed. Earlier this week, efforts were being made to secure an alternative vessel to operate the route but this proposal was turned down by the MAS.
According to the Guyana Government, representatives have worked tirelessly over the past several days with their Surinamese counterparts to ensure all safety and structural compliance were met so the ferry can return to service at the soonest possible time given the importance of this link between the two countries. “We were aware of the considerable inconvenience this temporary suspension had on the public in both countries and as such, ensured that everything that had to be done was done. The safety and wellbeing of the public was never lost at any time during this period,” the Government stated. It added, “We thank all the relevant authorities and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support while this situation was being resolved. Most importantly, we thank the public for their patience during this time. As much as it was a terrible inconvenience, which we truly regret, their ultimate safety was top priority.” Meanwhile, the Government further indicated that during this period, Guyana and Suriname will continue discussions for the subsequent drydocking of the MV Canawaima and a replacement vessel to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted flow of the ferry service.
The Canawaima Ferry Service is jointly owned by the Governments of Guyana and Suriname, with each country having 50 per cent of the issued share capital. It is the holding company for the Canawaima Management Company NV, a wholly owned subsidiary which was incorporated in Suriname. Based on that Joint Venture agreement, Guyana supplies all fuels, lubricants and batteries to facilitate the daily operation of the ferry while Suriname takes care of the maintenance and dry docking of the vessel. This recently suspension of service comes just over a week after the Surinamese maritime officials had threatened to halt operations if safety deficiencies on the vessel were not addressed by the end of August 13, 2026.
However, service had returned to normalcy the following day after it was stated that the vessel was inspected and the concerns were addressed, with further issues to be fixed during dry-docking scheduled within the next three months. But on Saturday, August 22, passengers turned up at Moleson Creek only to find the gates to the ferry stelling closed. Later that evening, the Canawaima Ferry Service Inc, in a public notice posted on the Facebook page of Guyana’s Embassy in Suriname, announced that the ferry service was suspended, due to “scheduled works” and no date was given for its resumption. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had subsequently explained that two technical inspections were conducted by maritime experts from both Guyana and Suriname, who concluded that the vessel could remain in operation until it entered drydock within the next three months.
“Despite these assurances which were provided in writing the Maritime Authority in Suriname insisted that certain matters which would have been addressed during drydocking, should be undertaken immediately,” Edghill said in a missive on August 22. Meanwhile, the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) had called for support for the stranded passengers on both sides of the Corentyne River, adding that this latest disruption underscores the need for a dedicated secondary vessel and, ultimately, investment in a new ferry to ensure the Guyana-Suriname link is not completely disrupted whenever the Canawaima is unavailable. Some of the stranded passengers had sought alternative ways to cross the Corentyne River but initially encountered difficulties due to the absence of an arrangement on the Surinamese side to facilitate immigration processing for persons using the small-boat service. This was later resolved on Monday, when authorities in Suriname gave the go-ahead for an arrangement to facilitate those travellers. Since then, passengers have been able to have their travel documents processed at the official ports before using the small boats to cross the Corentyne River and continue their journeys between Guyana and Suriname. The Springlands–Nickerie route, commonly referred to as the “back track”, has three operators using speedboats to transport passengers across the river. Owner of Golden Gloves Boat Service, Muhammed Murcalin, had said earlier this week that the situation has returned to some level of normalcy following the introduction of the immigration arrangement.
According to Murcalin, close to 200 passengers were travelling back and forth across the river daily, compared with fewer than 120 when the ferry was operating. He estimated that about seven trips are made from the location on an average day, although boats do not necessarily have to be filled before leaving.