Cranes Guyana Inc., a subsidiary of John Fernandes Limited and Muneshwers Limited, has acquired two new heavy-lift cranes that will significantly enhance the efficiency of cargo shipping in Georgetown. According to Philip Fernandes, a senior official at Cranes Guyana Inc., the installation of these cranes at the Demerara River, Water Street berth means that cargo ships will no longer need to bring their own cranes when docking.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) supported this initiative with an estimated loan of $10 million, while Cranes Guyana Inc. contributed an additional $1 million towards infrastructural improvements at the berth. With the new cranes in place, ships can now allocate more space for cargo, as the weight of cranes will no longer be a factor. This allows for more efficient loading and unloading, ultimately benefiting the shipping costs.

During the commissioning ceremony, Mr. Fernandes highlighted the cranes’ impressive capabilities, noting their working radius of 49 meters and lifting capacity of 125 metric tonnes, tailored for Panamax-sized vessels. He also emphasized that all site works were conducted by local service providers, including SKRN Engineering and Civil Engineer Bhageshwar Murli.

Additionally, President Irfaan Ali announced plans to address ongoing challenges in the Demerara Harbour, such as siltation and road traffic congestion. He reassured attendees that the government has allocated budget resources to tackle these issues this year, aiming for improved operational conditions for larger vessels navigating the harbour.