$118M Prison Vessel commissioned, goes on test run

The Guyana Prison Service on Saturday, December 9, 2017, officially commissioned the M.V Troy W – a marine vessel which will take prisoners, staff and cargo between Parika and the Mazaruni Prison.

The vessel, which was named after Troy Williams, the prison officer who was killed during the 2002 jailbreak, set sail on a test run in the Demerara River after the symbolic ribbon cutting was done by the mother and sister of Williams.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels and other senior officers of the Prison Service went for the first sail.

In his address, Samuels told the gathering he recommended that the vessel is named after Williams because of his commitment to the job prior to his death on February 23, 2002. He was 23-years-old at the time of his death.

According to the Prison Director, Williams almost single-handedly prevented several other prisoners from escaping the penitentiary that day and in the process, he was stabbed. The vessel was designed and built at a cost of $118M by GNIC following negotiations two years ago.

The Twin Screw Passenger- Cargo Vessel has accommodation for 80 passengers above the Main Deck as well as 60-ton cargo space below main deck forward of the engine room.

It contains three watertight bulkheads which divide the hull into four compartments. The Vessel will be designed with a free running speed to not less than minimum 12 knots and fitted with two diesel Engines developing about 500HP.

Additionally, the vessel is said to be of ABS Classification Standard.

Minister Ramjattan in his address stated that government saw no issue in providing the prison service with the vessel they requested. He pointed out that the administration has taken a decision to ensure that assets for the security sector must be brand new as the reconditioned ones tend to give a hard time and do not provide a prolonged service period.

The previous vessel which was built for the prison service will be brought in for some much-needed repairs soon, News Room was told.