The speed and efficiency with which Zhanghao Shipyard has constructed a 63-metre long logging vessel, has impressed a high-level Government team which visited the shipyard in Coverden, East Bank Demerara on Monday.
The vessel, Zhango Hao No. 1 which is 183 metres in width and 4.3 meters in height is 95 percent completed after just over three months of construction.
“I felt very heartened, and excited by what we saw here some months ago, the establishment of this shipyard and the construction of this power barge, and we think it is a sign of what would be accomplished in Guyana, and what is being accomplished in Guyana, and we thought we come out here to bring attention to fact that activities are being widened in Guyana so that you could think more of having ships built in Guyana; small ships and repaired here in Guyana,” Prime Minister Samuel explained.
The Prime Minister who was accompanied by Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn expressed the hope that the investment would encourage Guyanese to make similar investments in their country.
Zhanghao shipyard is operated by the Su family, which has been involved in the logging business in Guyana over the past six years. In 2009, the decision was taken to commence construction on the shipyard in Coverden. Simple construction started in this regard in 2012, however to facilitate a logging concession that the family owns in Kwakwani, they realised the need for transportation and in this regard, building of the shipyard paused to make way for the vessel’s construction.
Tresey Su explained that her husband Shuzairong has invested US$4M on the entire operation thus far; US$2M on the construction of the Zhango Hao No. 1, and the remainder on the shipyard and on the 60 employees, 30 of whom are Guyanese.
She said her husband, who is a Guyanese was driven by his need to give back to his country. The vessel, whose design and engine are Chinese, and steel plates were also pre-formed in China. It has the capacity to carry 200,000 tonnes of logs and six crew members and will take about four days from their wharf in Kwakwani to Coverden with the logs.
This was Minister Benn’s second visit to the shipyard since the construction began. “I actually visited whilst they were in construction a few months ago, and had a quick site visit,” he said.
The Minister explained that rapid construction and good quality delivery, on schedule, is always of interest to the Ministry. “We are excited that such construction to move our goods into markets could be done fairly quickly here based on technology that is planned and prepared and integrated. We are also interested in the fact that the cost of shipbuilding, based on Chinese engineering and construction materials, the cost is significantly lower than the sources that we have, so that is all of interest to us,” he said.
All that remains to be completed on the vessel are minor works in the cabin and another coating of paint on the exterior.
The Su family is hoping to, in time, construct and design similar vessels for interested buyers.
