Collaborative effort brings two new cargo handling machines to Guyana
Port Georgetown expects its first ever Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) to be delivered in August, following pier reinforcement works now in progress.
In February, Konecranes indicated that two port operating companies in Guyana, Muneshwers Ltd. and John Fernandes Ltd., had placed a joint order for two MHCs. The two Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes are destined for cargo handling terminals at Port Georgetown.
The cranes will be shipped shortly after August 15, to arrive in Georgetown before the end of the month.
“We are advised that pier reinforcement in Georgetown will be ready soon and that cranes can be off-loaded any time after August 15. That’s what we have instructed the shipping line. Delivery shall take place shortly after August 15, 2023,” Konecranes executive, Andreas Moeller stated.
The two MHCs will be able to handle “gearless” ships i.e., ships that do not have their own lifting equipment onboard. And they carry technologies that will improve productivity, moving containers as well as general cargo on the quay while minimizing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
COLLABORATION
The collaboration between the family-owned John Fernandes Ltd. and Muneshwers Ltd. is about building a regional cargo hub at Port Georgetown, a Konecranes media release dated February 2023 indicated. It quoted comments from principals of both Guyanese companies.
“As we planned our hub, it soon became clear that the right equipment for us was mobile harbour cranes, and we made site visits to Jamaica and Florida where we could see cranes of different brands in action at customer sites,” says Robin Muneshwer, CEO of Muneshwers Ltd.
“Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes impressed us with their performance, reliability, and robustness as well as their outstanding eco-efficiency. Their special hybrid drive offers us both performance peaks in fast and heavy cargo handling and fuel saving options,” says Philip Fernandes, CEO of John Fernandes Ltd.
SERVICES / LINES
According to the Shipping Association of Guyana (official website), shipping lines serving Guyana include:
- Seaboard
- Seafreight
- ZIM
- Evergreen
- Trans Caribbean Line
- WM Shipping
- Bernuth
- Mediterranean Shipping Co.
- Europe Caribbean
- CMA/CGM
- Tropical Shipping
- Inter Marine
- CSAV.
Destinations include the USA, Caribbean, Europe, Asia, South America.
Port Georgetown is handling feeder-size container cargo vessels, car carriers, bulk carriers, tankers and cruise vessels. The port covers 16 kilometres inward from the estuary of the Demerara River, along the ships’ channel. Average depth is 5.5 metres at low tide. []
- First published May 15, 2023
