10 Guyanese travelling to India for training on new North West ferry

The MV Ma Lisha, Guyana’s new North West ferry, is being constructed in India and from December 3 to 7, 10 Guyanese workers will visit the South Asian country for training on the new vessel.

This is according to a press release issued by the Indian High Commission. See full press release below:

Ten employees including engineers, surveyors, technicians, crew, etc. from the Government of Guyana’s Transport and Harbors Department will be travelling to Kolkata, India for training on the new ferry vessel, MV Ma Lisha being built by Indian Defense Public Sector Enterprise Garden Reach Ship Builders Ltd. under a Government Of India funded 12.77 million Grant/Line of Credit line. They will be in India from 3-7 December, 2022.

The selected employees are: Mr. Victor Reid, Chief Mechanical Engineer; Mr. Cleroy Haywood, Captain; Mr. Orson Lindie, Mate; Mr. Matthew Burke, Mate; Mr. Paul Brotherson, Chief Engineer; Mr. Garfield Karl, Second Engineer; Mr. Courtney Melville, Ordinary Seaman; Mr. Randy October, Ordinary Seaman; Mr. Courtney McDonald, Surveyor of Ships; Mr. Collis Bethune, Technician (Electrical).

During a courtesy call on High Commissioner of India Dr. KJ Srinivasa, discussions were held on the progress of the project and training/inspection for which the team was visiting India.

Meanwhile, two representatives of the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd are currently in Guyana, where they are coordinating final preparatory work for the arrival of the ferry and maintenance after arrival expected in end January 2023. During a meeting with HE Dr. KJ Srinivasa, the representatives briefed High Commissioner on the progress of the vessel project and the cooperation being coordinated with the Guyanese authorities.

The ferry was launched into water in June, 2022 by the Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan. The MV Ma Lisha Ocean going ferry will cater to the transportation needs of passengers and cargoes along the riverine and coastal routes of the Northwestern district of Guyana, fulfilling a long standing demand of the region.