| – Ferry should return to work this weekAmidst the contention that the Guyana National Industrial Corporation, GNIC, had demanded $79 million from the Government for unapproved work to the transport vessel MV Kimbia, Operations Engineer of the company, Jadesh Ramjag, explained the reason for added cost.MV KimbiaGNIC had requested the additional sum for repairs which were deemed “critical” and necessary for “preservation of the vessel seaworthiness.”Ramjag said that the work included repairs to the hull, a replacement of a discharge valve situated in the engine room, and replacement of several other structures of the boat.He explained that prior to the docking of the boat an estimate was prepared by the company. “However after the vessel was docked it was discovered that repairs were beyond the estimated price.”The vessel, MV Kimbia, is about 40 years old. It had not been in dry docks for the past five years. And on that occasion the work was done by ECVieira Shipyards. Again the methodology of seeking to price jobs without a thorough check was applied. It was resolved when Vieira threatened to move to the courts to recover the outstanding variation of $65 million.Again, this time around, there was no estimate. GNIC never checked the requirements, according to practice, Instead it offered a repair cost but the work never got underway until two months later.“Our ship yard manager took the initiative to execute some of the work in interest of the urgency and to maintain the structure and integrity of the vessel…Because this is the nature of our business we know what is best for a passenger vessel of this sort for the safety of the crew and passenger abroad.”In November last year, GNIC was awarded the contract to repair the vessel, which has been plying the North West District for the past 20 years.Correspondence seen by this newspaper revealed that GNIC and the Transport and Harbours Department entered into an agreement on November 5, for the docking of the boat at a contract sum of $118M. There was no inspection.Subsequent to that, another variation of $79 M was submitted to TH&D, as other essential repairs were outlined. Only $25 M of that amount was approved for work to be carried out.None-the-less, the list was further reduced by the management of Transport and Harbours Department, in spite of a visit to the vessel by President Donald Ramotar and Transport Minister, Robeson Benn who viewed the condition of the boat.The Maintenance works executed on the vessel amounted to approximately $25M of the variation cost. Priority was given to areas needing urgent remedial work.According to the engineer,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China, lack of regular maintenance has contributed mainly to the decay of the MV Kimbia. The vessel should be docked at least every 18 months.The vessel has been sitting in the dockyard pending repairs since January 13. The delay has had a severe impact on the transportation service of the North West residents. They have been forced to rely on the much smaller Lady Northcote and other private vessels at great costs to get to and from the district.Chief Executive Officer, CEO of GNIC, Clinton Williams disclosed yesterday that there is currently no dispute surrounding the maintenance work of the vessel.“That issue was sorted out and the vessel should be released by Wednesday,” the CEO concerning the Main transport vessel of Region One, North West District.Williams sought to clarify the contents of an article which was published in the Sunday Edition of the Kaieteur News under the heading, GNIC demands $79 million for unapproved work.The Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) were in a disagreement over maintenance to the MV Kimbia after the company requested an additional $79M over the original $118 M contract, but T&HD was only prepared to approve an additional $10.8M for variation.“There exists no dispute at this time between Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated and the Transport and Harbours Department as it relates to the current Drydocking of the MV Kimbia.“On the contrary, the relationship between GNIC and T&HD has been very cordial and professional for this particular job as has been the case for all of the previous Drydocking jobs executed over the years for T&H,” the CEO said.Kaieteur News understands that the duration of the repairs was for 70 days. During a visit to the dockyard, it was recommended that the vessel should be scrapped as Minister Benn noted that may very well be last duties of the ferry for North West districts.Benn had explained that the severe marine conditions along the North West route coupled with the age of the vessel make it unwise for the vessel to continue plying that route in the long term.The cost for a new vessel of this sort would be approximately US$10 M. |
