Supenaam busiest route as over 3600 trips recorded to date on Guyana’s waterways in 2025

Guyana’s Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) continues to experience growth in its operations, with some 3662 trips recorded so far, as this year comes to a close, by the various commercial vessels that it is operating on the waterways throughout the country.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill made this revelation on Friday evening during the commissioning ceremony of the newest addition to the T&HD’s fleet – MV Konawaruk 1899.

He noted that from January of this year to date, more than 411,000 passengers have been moved through the department-operated vessels, as well as over 130,000 vehicles and some 193,000 tonnes of cargo. According to the Public Works Minister, the Supenaam-Parika route accounted for the majority of the 3600-plus trips recorded thus far.

“On the Supenaam leg…it accounts for two-thirds of our passenger traffic – 66 per cent. It accounts for 73 per cent of all the vehicles that are moved and 69 per cent of all the freight that we move. And out of those 3662 trips, it accounts for 52 per cent of those trips,” Edghill stated.

This comes as the Government adds another new vessel with increased capacity to service this critical route that connects Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

“So, the ferry crossing will be Parika, Leguan, Wakenaam, and Supenaam, and it will be much faster, and the transit time will be significantly reduced, bringing improvements and connectivity to the people of the islands.  And that is the overall vision of what we will be doing,” Minister Edghill explained.

MV Konawaruk 1899 was acquired for approximately US$5 million and is Guyana’s first double-ended ferry with the capacity to accommodate 81 cars or 19 European-type trucks (large trucks) and over 300 passengers. This Greek-made vessel will bolster the department’s fleet, which includes MV Malali, Kimbia, Kanawan, Sabanto, Makouria, Barima, Sandaka and, more recently, the Indian-built MV Ma Lisha that was acquired in 2023 and currently operates the North-West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) route.

In fact, in another month’s time, a second new vessel will also be arriving from Greece to service the Georgetown to Region One route alongside MV MA Lisha.

Over the past five years, T&HD has recorded significant progress in its operation that has seen a growth in revenue generation as well as vessel and stelling rehabilitation. In the first half of 2025 alone, the department generated some $576 million in earnings. This is compared to the $1.2 billion in revenues that were raked in 2024 – a figure that has nearly quadrupled over the last five years from the $339.2 million in August 2020.

Last year saw a total of 5034 return trips made by the T&HD, including 1,965 on the Parika-Supenaam route; 744 trips from Parika-Leguan; 315 trips at Parika-Wakenaam; 296 trips from Parika-Bartica; and 38 trips on North West services. Additionally, some 441,131 passengers, 141,867 vehicles, and 241,235 tonnes of cargo were moved throughout the year.

These figures reflect an increase in passenger numbers, which rose from 187,122 in 2020, while vehicle transport more than doubled from 61,783 in 2020.

Meanwhile, to support the growing demand for river transport, the Government has invested over $2.8 billion from 2020 to June 2025 for the rehabilitation of critical vessels. Another $1 billion was spent as of June 2025, compared to $58 million in 2020, on the upgrade of stellings across the country.

Major works on stellings have been completed at Leguan, Supenaam, Parika, Bartica, Kumaka and Wakenaam. In addition, a US$20 million contract was awarded back in June for the first phase of a modern international port facility at Parika.