Passengers boarding MV Ma Lisha at the Kingston Wharf
The spanking new MV Ma Lisha on Thursday commenced service between Georgetown and Region One (Barima-Waini), setting sail on its inaugural journey with a full complement of 276 passengers.
The $2.5 billion vessel departed from the Kingston Wharf with Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and other officials on board. It will then return to Georgetown from Kumaka, Region One on Tuesday, August 15. It is expected to revolutionise travel between the two destinations, allowing for larger cargo and goods to be transported.
It will take 15 hours for the vessel to reach its destination since it will have to reduce speed along some areas on the journey. The new North-West-bound ferry has the capacity to accommodate up to 276 passengers, along with 18 crew members. It can also carry 14 sedan-type vehicles and two trucks.
Passengers onboard the vessel
According to Minister Edghill, the vessel was completely booked. Persons who could not board the vessel on the inaugural trip would be able to do so on Tuesday.
“We had more passengers that wanted to use the service today than the boat can carry. We sought to eliminate that by allowing people to book online from home or to come to the goods wharf since we announced it and we were booking them online. What would have happened is that people because of tradition, show up the day of the vessel and expect to buy a ticket on board, even though we announced ahead of time, pre-selling of tickets. So we have made a decision. The passengers and cargo that is unable to go today will go on Tuesday.”
While the vessel was supposed to fully absorb the transportation demands between Region One and Georgetown, Edghill said contingencies will have to be put in place in light of the increased traffic.
MV Ma Lisha setting sail for Region One
Chairman of the Transport and Harbour Advisory Board, Rosalina Rasul explained that the ferry was completely booked within days.
“Within days, it was actually filled and as more people are aware of the online booking system, I have no doubt that it will get filled much faster but this is the first time we’ve seen a complete booking using the ferry pass.”
The ferry was built by the Indian firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE). First Secretary from the Indian High Commission, Mukesh Kaushik remarked that it is a journey that symbolises a growing India-Guyana friendship.
“It will bring friendship. It will bring business. It will bring development to the region. This ferry not only brings a journey, but it’s also a journey between two countries as its name symbolises, Ma Lisha, which is friendship. So, it’s a living example of growing India-Guyana friendship,” Kaushik noted.
The vessel arrived in Guyana’s waters back in April after setting sail from Kolkata to Chennai, and then making its way through the Atlantic Ocean to Trinidad.
On April 3, 2023, the vessel was offloaded from MV Sun Rise at the Port of Chaguaramas and set sail for local waters.
A 14-member Guyanese crew led by veteran Guyanese Captain and Director of Maritime Safety at the Maritime Administration Department, Captain Courtney McDonald, was onboard the vessel to guide it home to Guyana.
The Guyanese crew was complemented by three crew members from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, and two technicians from MACORP.
MV Ma Lisha has a front loading/offloading ramp that can accommodate easy loading and discharging of cargo. The vessel also has a side-boarding capacity. A total of 19 Navigational, Mechanical, and Auxiliary Staff of the Transport and Harbours Department were trained in India during 2022 and earlier this year, to operate the new ferry vessel.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had said earlier this year that this vessel would support the Government’s pursuit of transforming and improving the country’s transport infrastructure, especially for the hinterland regions.
When it arrived, President Irfaan Ali spoke about the important role Ma Lisha is expected to play in Guyana’s development. He noted that, among other things, the vessel will serve as an important conduit for trade between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, the wider Caribbean Region.
He noted that with the ship’s cold storage capability, commodities like crab meat can be transported from Region One to Georgetown. This is a commodity that is in high demand in the oil and gas industry. As such, the vessel will open up opportunities for value-added food production. Additionally, however, primary products like ginger and turmeric can also be transported. There is even an opportunity for high-demand crops to be exported to international markets.
Among the other advantages of the new vessel is that it is more fuel efficient. President Ali revealed that the operating costs of current vessels – such as MV Kimbia – is almost $12 million per month, most of which can be chalked up to fuel costs. (Rupa Seenaraine)
