- Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers has bagged a deal to build a ferry for Guyana, that may also sail to Suriname with passengers and vehicles
- This is the first time ever, that an Indian shipyard has bagged such a deal
- GRSE is the only shipyard in the country to have built 106 ships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard
THoD Newsdesk, Kolkata: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), a Kolkata-based shipyard has now ensnared a contract to build a ferry for Guyana, that may also sail to Suriname with passengers and vehicles. Further, this is the first time ever, that an Indian shipyard has bagged such a deal. People travelling to the Caribbean, are familiar with the Guyana-Suriname ferry. GRSE had been in talks with the government in Guyana after being shortlisted.
“GRSE is the only shipyard in the country to have built 106 ships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. It is also the only shipyard to have delivered a warship to Mauritius. Now, a lot of stress is being paid on exports and the order for the ferry in Guyana was bagged after the shipyard participated in a global tender”, an official was quoted saying. He further added that the 1,700-tonne-vessel will be used by Guyana in its coastal and riverine areas. The vessel will also boast of two Caterpillar marine diesel engines paired with twin-disc reduction gearboxes, to achieve speeds of approximately 15 knots.
Last week, the Harbour Department, Ministry of Public Works, Government of Guyana, signed the pact with GRSE to build the vessel, which will entail a cost of US $12.7 million. It can carry both passengers and cargo, including vehicles.
“The ferry service has been suspended for some time now due to the pandemic and a refugee crisis from Cuba. GRSE may also deliver a vessel to Seychelles as part of a government-to-government deal. The vessel handed over to Mauritius may return to the shipyard soon for a refit,” the official added.
