US$5m ferry launched – Stabroek News

The nearly US$5m Greece-made vessel, MV Konawaruk 1899, which will ply the Parika to Supenaam route was yesterday commissioned with residents expressing gratitude for an added service that government says is part of its transport infrastructure plan aimed at building capacity and stimulating trade within and outside of Essequibo.

“There was a need for us to be moving …This vessel is a major improvement, comparable to moving from LIAT to KLM in terms of service quality,” Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill said at the commissioning ceremony held aboard the vessel as it made its first return journey. 

He said that with enhanced connectivity, greater capacity, and enhanced services for the region the new vessel brings new hope, a higher standard of living, and major improvements for especially the people of the Essequibo Coast and those visiting.

Edghill also announced that early next year government will be removing components of the Demerara Harbour Bridge to link Leguan and Wakenaan and in that way the vessel will ply the route from Parika to Leguan to Wakenaan to Supenaam and back to Parika.  “It will be much faster and the transit time will reduce helping the people of the islands,” he said.

Named after the 1899 Arbitral Award that settled the boundary with Vene-zuela, and the Konawaruk area in Region 8, the vessel according to Edghill, has double the capacity of the Chinese-made MV Sabanto and MV Kanawan vessels.

The approximate US$5m cost paid, the Minister said, was also remarkable and contended that this country secured a good deal.

“The price we got this vessel for is really a deal,” he said, highlighting “bigger capacity “.

Edghill  said that in another month another vessel will be arriving from Greece and will  ply  from Georgetown to Region 1 along with the India-financed MV Ma Lisha.

He explained that with a large vessel some adjust-ments had to be made at the docking areas on both ends.

The vessel’s schedule, as with all others, will be determined by the tide. “ For all the boats, you have to get a certain draft because you have sand banks and if you don’t get the right tide timetable, you run the risk of hitting sand banks. You have to be able to predict a certain level of draught for those trips,” he said.

Passengers were told that if the vessel didn’t leave Supenaam by 8 last night, the vessel would not be able to travel again until midnight.

Yesterday also saw minor glitches with the vessel span and it’s aligning with the linkspan bridge.

For low cars to drive on to the vessel, workers had to place pieces of wood on the span, both at Parika and Supenaam to avoid it dragging and damaging the front fender.

“The linkspan bridge was made for the Kanawan and Sabanto. So when we brought this in we had to take this to measure …and we had to re-pile. We had to make adjustments for the piles to accommodate this. This vessel is also longer so we had to put in additional mooring piles and extend the catwalk,” he explained.

Edghill also noted that since January, the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) has moved more than 411,000 passengers through T&HD alone, alongside 130,000 vehicles and over 193,000 tonnes of cargo on the 3600 trips made.

Supenaam accounts for 52% of overall trips equating to  some 66% of the country’s passengers travel, 79% of all vehicles and 69% of all the freight.

He pleaded with com-muters to take care of the state-of-the-art vessel. “We have to keep it tidy, keep it in good shape …,” he said.

He said that TH&D has had its fair share of challenges with the vessels it was using, some more than 50 years old, but with upgrades and increased vessels citizens can expect better transportation. 

Edghill said that the commissioning reflects the vision of President  Irfaan Ali, whose leadership has driven continuous improvements in ferry services. From introducing later daily trips to acquiring more vessels  and implementing online booking systems. In this way he said  the government has steadily modernized transport in Guyana for residents.

It was the President who also led the name change of the vessel which was brought here under the name ARIS IV..

The commissioning was made possible through collaboration across multiple agencies such as the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) which did the procurement and transport facilitation the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation which helped with infrastructure modifications, the Sea and River Defence Department – engineering support for mooring and docking and the Transport and Harbour Department with maintenance of the old vessels and transition to modern fleet renewal.

Meanwhile, Essequibo residents shared their views on the acquisition and expanded connectivity.

“ This is really great, you know, for people who want to transport large cargo and those who want to take their vehicles with them, “ Doreen Langivine told Stabroek News.

This was echoed by  Melissa Poliah who lives at  Supenaam. Mearlene Couching of Aurora said the vessel brings comfort and connectivity and she and her grandchildren will be using it.

For Sunita Kawal  Golden Fleece the vessel is her “prayers answered “

“I always love big boats because of meh age and so. I can’t take the speed boat rocking no more. We have a big boat but look at this one. This A.C is nice and cold so I could relax up here and meh son-in-law can carry he canter and all the goods to Parika to sell,” she said.

Naiomi Vivekananda from Adventure said the new ferry will greatly assist her in her small business. She expressed gratitude to President Ali for delivering on the initiative.

Nicolsia Sandiford of Good Hope shared similar enthusiasm, saying she is pleased with the new service and eager to travel on the ferry.

Maria Joseph, described the MV ARIS IV as a significant boost for both tourism and the business sector. She noted that the development reflects a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali, adding that the Essequibo Region is experiencing rapid growth.

Beyond capacity, the MV ARIS IV offers modern comforts, including a double-ended design, comfortable seating, a bar, restrooms, and an air-conditioned crew cabin—features that enhance safety, efficiency, and passenger comfort.

The ferry’s introduction is part of a broader national push to modernize infrastructure and strengthen connectivity. This includes ongoing works to transform the Parika Stelling into a modern port facility with customs and immigration services, cold storage, and other critical amenities.

As the Christmas season approaches, residents believe the MV ARIS IV will play a vital role in easing travel pressures, stimulating economic activity, and reinforcing the Essequibo’s connection to the rest of the country—marking another step forward in the region’s development journey.