Teething problems snag MV Konawaruk 1899

What this source establishes

A Demerara Waves report seven months before the disaster on the MV Konawaruk 1899, a second-hand Greek-built roll-on/roll-off ferry bought for just under US$5 million for the Parika-Supenaam route. On its inaugural crossing the bow door failed to lower properly at both terminals, with greenheart planks used at Parika and more planks at Supenaam and delays of over 15 minutes; the MARAD Director-General inspected the mooring discrepancy. The article records that a second Greek ferry was expected the following month for the Georgetown-North West service. This is the shore-infrastructure problem later cited in accounts of why the Kalliopi N remained uncommissioned.

Key claims

• MV Konawaruk 1899 (ex-ARIS IV) Greek-built, purchased for just under US$5 million, for Parika-Supenaam
• Named for Konawaruk in Region Eight; '1899' references the arbitral award on the Guyana-Venezuela boundary
• On the inaugural crossing the bow door failed to lower properly at BOTH terminals; greenheart planks used at Parika, more planks at Supenaam; delays over 15 minutes
• MARAD Director-General inspected the mooring discrepancy
• MV Sabanto and MV Kanawan, about 20 years old, would continue on the same route
• A second Greek ferry was expected the following month for the Georgetown-North West service

Quotations

• “the door did not land flat on the bridge”

Prior warnings recorded

• Not a warning about the Barima, but a documented pre-disaster instance of the fleet-renewal programme delivering vessels that did not mate correctly with existing shore infrastructure — the same wharf-compatibility problem later cited as a reason the Kalliopi N sat uncommissioned while the Barima kept sailing.

Vessel facts recorded

• fact: MV Konawaruk 1899 is a Greece-made ferry purchased for just under US$5 million, commissioned on the Essequibo River for the Parika-Supenaam route
• source: https://demerarawaves.com/2025/12/19/teething-problems-snag-mv-konawaruk-1899/
• fact: Name refers to Konawaruk, a Region Eight location; '1899' references the arbitral tribunal award settling the Guyana-Venezuela boundary
• source: https://demerarawaves.com/2025/12/19/teething-problems-snag-mv-konawaruk-1899/
• fact: On the inaugural crossing the roll-on/roll-off vessel's bow door failed to lower properly at both terminals; greenheart planks were used at Parika and additional planks at Supenaam where 'the door did not land flat on the bridge'; delays exceeded 15 minutes
• source: https://demerarawaves.com/2025/12/19/teething-problems-snag-mv-konawaruk-1899/
• fact: The two existing Parika-Supenaam ferries, Sabanto and Kanawan, approximately 20 years old, would continue operating the route
• source: https://demerarawaves.com/2025/12/19/teething-problems-snag-mv-konawaruk-1899/
• fact: A second Greek ferry was expected the following month for the Georgetown-North West District service
• source: https://demerarawaves.com/2025/12/19/teething-problems-snag-mv-konawaruk-1899/

This page is a research summary prepared for comment and review. It is not the article. Copyright in the original remains with Demerara Waves Online News; the full text is held only in the private research corpus from which this archive was compiled. Follow the link above to read it at the source.