By Kurt Campbell
Five years in operation, the entrepreneurial risk taken by local company – Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) – is being hailed as a unique Guyanese success story.
On Friday, the company commissioned two additional heavy lift berths at an overall cost of US$25 million on reclaimed land at its Houston, East Bank Demerara facility along the Demerara River.
GYSBI also commissioned its ‘Commander in Chief’ crane which is one of its kind in Guyana and the region.
Backed by its 705 employees, 95 per cent of which are Guyanese, GYSBI recently secured an additional 11-year contract on the initial five years from ExxonMobil’s local affiliate, Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a signal that the growing company will be in business for the long haul.
Now, the company boasts of being a fully integrated shore base.
During the commissioning ceremony, GYSBI’s Executive Director, Robin Muneshwer reminded that the company initially started with eight acres of lay-down yard, two berths and one warehouse.
Now, the company owns 155 acres, eight warehouses and four berths.
“These berths are the culmination of our rapid expansion program at Guyana Shore Base. A facility that started operation just five years ago after we won the Exxon shore base tender,” Muneshwer told the gathering, which included President Irfaan Ali and members of his cabinet, high-ranking private sector officials and hundreds of GYSBI workers.
“This exponential growth is fueled by the unparalleled success Exxon has had in its exploration activities and the ability of GYSBI to fulfill its client’s needs,” the Executive Director added.
The first two berths were built in the pre-oil era before GYSBI won the tender, now it has become increasing important with over 30 vessels arriving and leaving the shore base with offshore supplies weekly.
The berths are important for mooring vessels and provide a vertical front which allows safe and secure mooring that can then facilitate the loading of cargo or people.
It is important to note that the expansion of GYSBI has seen services previously procured out of Trinidad now being supplied locally.
The company now services seven rigs and two floating, production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs).
“Now with our four berths we can handle as much as eight vessels in a 24-hour period,” Muneshwer added.
President of ExxonMobil, Alistair Routledge regarded GYSBI as the premier berthing facility in Guyana, offering employment and business opportunities to other local companies while building and supporting local content.
He noted that the company has become an integral and critical part of ExxonMobil’s operations offshore, providing services locally that were handled out of Trinidad and Tobago.
Those services now provided locally include the tank cleaning facility, part of waste management.
“It is a multiservice one-stop shop. From drilling equipment, fuel materials, chemicals all critical to our operations, waste treatment and storage of spill response equipment, GYSBI is a critical part of our operations,” Routledge added.
He said before the new berths, Exxon averaged 24 vessels coming to the berths every week which has now gone above 30 vessels per week.
“In 2022 more than 220, 000 tons of cargo were moved through the shore base to our offshore facilities… that’s more than 4, 000 every week. It’s an incredible operation.”
President Ali congratulated the GYSBI team for what they have been able to accomplish and said the government will continue to lend support with the right policies.
“Let me say to all of you. I am proud of the work you have done and Guyana must be proud of the exceptional work you have done on this facility.” Dr. Ali said.
“One of the most beautiful sights flying over Georgetown is this facility.”
