KINGSTON - Works are moving quickly on Motor Vessel Lady Northcote, which docked in September for much needed rehabilitation works. The ferry plies the Georgetown – Port Kaituma, Region One route.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson and team, on Thursday, visited the vessel at the E.C. Vieira Dockyard; E.C. Vieira is the contracting firm doing the rehabilitation works. The visit allowed the team to meet with the contractor, who updated the members on the status of the ongoing repair works.
Marcelene Merchant, General Manager of Transport and Harbours Department, stated that “Wasted steel is being cropped and replaced on top of the wheel house deck above the captain’s cabin on the sun deck, passengers’ deck, main deck, bow deck, the exterior of the hull, the bow and stern above the waterline, six toilet areas, and all cabins...,” Merchant explained.
She added that whilst all vent pipes are currently being re-manufactured, repairs are ongoing on the derrick (the ship’s lifting device) and all pertaining mechanisms along with the installation of Cummins engine to drive dynamo.
Additionally, the beds and bunks are being constructed and prepared for installation on the new wood decking for the passenger deck.
Rehabilitation works for Lady Northcote were projected at a value of $70M, by the contracting firm. However, the administration still intends, on a long-term basis, to acquire a new vessel to ply the North West route.
