MV Canawaima’s suspension: Guyana, Suriname asked for answers on repair time, disruption, replacement vessel

The Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) is calling for greater clarity from authorities in both countries over the suspension of the MV Canawaima ferry service while urging immediate support for stranded passengers and transport operators and answers on when a replacement vessel will be deployed.
The Chamber, in a statement issued Monday, said the disruption is affecting passengers, businesses, transport operators and the movement of goods between Guyana and Suriname and has renewed concerns about the reliability of the critical cross-border link.
At the same time, the SGCC made it clear that the safety of passengers and crew must take precedence over efforts to restore the service but called for greater clarity amid differing positions over how urgently identified issues with the vessel must be addressed.
The Chamber noted a clarification by Guyana’s Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, that recent technical inspections involving maritime experts from Guyana and Suriname concluded that the Canawaima could remain in operation pending dry-docking within the next three months.
However, the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) has determined that certain outstanding matters should instead be addressed immediately.

Vessel operational
The SGCC also cited a report by Suriname Nieuws Centrale on an August 21 assessment conducted by Marine Consulting & Survey. According to the Chamber, that assessment identified significant corrosion requiring further examination and remedial works but found no leakage and determined that the vessel could remain in operation for three months pending dry-docking.
The assessment also reportedly identified outstanding documentation and certification requirements, while further thickness measurements and repair works were scheduled to begin from Monday.
Against that background, the Chamber said the authorities should provide the travelling public and business community with a clearer picture of the vessel’s condition and what is required before operations can safely resume.
“Given the importance of maintaining public confidence in the safety and integrity of the service, SGCC encourages the relevant authorities to provide greater clarity on the outstanding requirements identified by MAS, the findings of the subsequent technical evaluations, and the works now considered necessary for the vessel’s safe return to operation,” the Chamber said.
It added that greater transparency would allow passengers and businesses to better understand both the reason for the suspension and the pathway towards resumption of the service.

Plight of passengers/operators
The Chamber also placed considerable emphasis on the plight of passengers and transport operators left stranded by the disruption.
Passengers encountered at the Moleson Creek terminal over the weekend included persons attempting to return to French Guiana through neighbouring Suriname. Some had begun their journeys with the expectation that they would be able to cross the Corentyne River using the ferry service, only to find themselves unable to continue as planned.
The SGCC said attention should now be focused on providing guidance and assistance to persons caught on either side of the river.
“Many travelled with the reasonable expectation that the service was operational and now face unplanned expenditure for accommodation, transportation, fuel and other necessities, with no certainty as to how long the disruption may continue,” it said.
The Chamber urged the responsible authorities and operators to give priority to those passengers by clearly communicating what immediate assistance or alternative arrangements could be provided, particularly for persons without the financial resources to sustain an extended and unexpected delay.

Restoring service
SGCC is also pressing the authorities in Guyana and Suriname for a coordinated plan for restoring the service.
It wants the two countries to provide an anticipated timeframe for the required works and return of the Canawaima to service and to say whether the present intervention will affect or accelerate the vessel’s planned dry-docking and maintenance.
The Chamber also wants to know what safe interim arrangements are being considered to maintain cross-border connectivity while the vessel remains unavailable.
“In this regard, SGCC respectfully requests clarification on when a replacement vessel will be deployed,” the statement said.
The Chamber argued that the latest disruption further demonstrates the need for a dedicated and appropriately inspected secondary vessel to provide redundancy when the Canawaima is unavailable. Ultimately, it said, investment in a new vessel is needed for such a critical bilateral transportation link.
The current disruption follows weeks of concerns surrounding the condition of the vessel.
Earlier this month, MAS raised several deficiencies following inspections of the Canawaima and indicated that the vessel could face restrictions if safety requirements were not addressed.
Following further work and a reinspection on August 13, the vessel was permitted to continue operating, with technical follow-up expected to continue. The ferry service was subsequently suspended again on Saturday, leaving travellers uncertain about when regular crossings would resume.
The management arrangement for the ferry also divides responsibilities between the two countries.
While acknowledging ongoing engagement between authorities in the two countries, the SGCC said cooperation must address not only the current suspension but also the recurring vulnerability of the cross-border connection.