The MV Canawaima ferry has been cleared to operate for three months, with marine surveyor Ing. Waldo Liauw Kwie Fong proposing a rehabilitation programme to extend the 30-year-old vessel’s service life by another 10 years. He gave the update in a letter dated August 21, sent to the board of Canawaima Management Company and Canawaima Ferry Services.
The letter responds to questions raised about the ferry’s condition following an earlier survey report and an August 13 statement.
Turning to the hull, the bottom of the ferry had been rated “poor” after inspectors found heavy rust damage. The Suriname Drydock Company will carry out detailed thickness tests during the week of August 24 to determine the true extent of the corrosion and complete remaining hull repairs.
The latest test results show all the worst-affected areas have already been repaired, with the rest to be checked at the next scheduled drydock session. The surveyor added that the ferry has no leaks and the tests found no significant thinning of the metal, noting that low-salinity water in the vessel’s operating area makes serious diminution unlikely.
On fire safety, the letter said the ferry does not need CO2 extinguishers, since it is already fitted with foam extinguishers certified for a wider range of fire classes. Fire pumps, backup systems and fire stations were all found to meet design specifications.
The letter also addressed the ferry’s Guyanese crew members, advising the company to consult the Maritime Administration Department in Georgetown. Since the ferry is jointly owned by Suriname and Guyana, Guyanese crew members must meet Guyana’s legal requirements as well.
More seriously, the letter flagged several paperwork gaps. The ferry is missing certificates for safety, tonnage, registration and load lines, and does not meet international rules under SOLAS and MARPOL. Suriname crew members also lack STCW training certificates, and the vessel has no ISM certificate despite operating international voyages.
Despite these gaps, hull repairs will proceed through the week of August 24, with the aim of keeping the ferry safe to operate until January 2027 under Liauw Kwie Fong’s supervision as naval architect.
