Suriname-Guyana Chamber pressing for two-vessel model
The sailing restriction on the MV Canawaima has been lifted following a re-inspection of the vessel, allowing ferry services between Guyana and Suriname to continue.
In a press release, Canawaima Ferry Service Inc (CFS) and Canawaima Management Company NV (CMC) said the vessel was re-inspected on August 13, 2026, after concerns were raised about outstanding safety and technical deficiencies.
“Following the re-inspection of the MV Canawaima on 13 August 2026, the announced sailing restriction has been lifted and ferry services between Suriname and Guyana can continue,” the companies said.
They added that further technical follow-up would continue in keeping with agreed arrangements.
“The safety of passengers, crew and the vessel remains the highest priority,” the release said.
CFS and CMC expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the authorities and other parties in Guyana and Suriname. They also thanked the personnel involved, as well as the media and wider community, for their engagement and understanding.
“Our collective efforts remain focused on maintaining a safe, reliable and sustainable ferry connection between Suriname and Guyana,” they said.
The lifting of the restriction comes after the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) called for urgent action to address problems affecting the ferry service. The vessel had faced a possible sailing ban from August 14 if the deficiencies were not corrected.
The Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS) had directed CMC to address the deficiencies by August 13. While supporting the regulator’s safety requirements, the Chamber said the development highlighted broader concerns about the reliability and sustainability of the ferry service, which provides a critical link between Guyana and Suriname.
“The safety of passengers, crew, cargo and the wider maritime environment must remain paramount,” the SGCC said in a statement, while stressing that the ferry is also vital to businesses, commuters, families and the movement of goods between the two countries.
The Chamber said disruptions to the service have implications beyond transportation, affecting supply chains, delivery commitments, tourism, investment confidence and efforts to strengthen economic ties between Guyana and Suriname.
The concerns arose days after the SGCC held a members’ forum on August 7, where the Canawaima Ferry Service and cross-border connectivity were among the key issues discussed.
According to the Chamber, members highlighted persistent difficulties in moving people and goods between the two countries and the effect of unreliable connectivity on businesses and communities along the Corentyne River.
The SGCC said the situation should not be treated as an isolated operational problem, arguing that recurring disruptions pointed to the need for a long-term solution addressing the vessel’s safety, reliability, capacity, maintenance and management.
The Chamber referred to a proposal it developed in February 2025 for a public-private partnership to manage the ferry service. The proposal included the rehabilitation of the existing vessel and dry-docking facilities, the addition and repair of a second vessel, increased investment in staff and management, digitised ticketing and booking systems, and broader operational modernisation.
According to the SGCC, a two-vessel model would reduce the vulnerability created by reliance on a single ferry, allowing one vessel to remain in operation while the other undergoes maintenance or repairs.
The Chamber said its 2025 research, based on Guyana Bureau of Statistics data, showed that sea trade accounted for between 97.11% and 99.36% of the total value of trade between Guyana and Suriname from 2019 to 2023.
It therefore argued that reliable maritime connectivity was fundamental to bilateral trade and wider economic integration.
The SGCC said maritime safety and uninterrupted connectivity should not be seen as competing priorities and urged the governments of Guyana and Suriname, the Canawaima management companies, maritime regulators and private-sector stakeholders to begin substantive discussions on the future of the service.
Although the immediate threat of a sailing ban has now been removed, the Chamber’s call for the structural modernisation and long-term management of the service remains unresolved.
Following an inspection on August 5, MAS had given CMC until August 13 to submit an action plan, address the deficiencies, undertake major repairs and schedule the vessel for dry-docking.
The requirements included ensuring that safety equipment was available, fire-fighting and detection systems were operational, crew members held valid safety certifications and an independent surveyor assessed the vessel’s watertightness.
In 2017, the vessel’s two engines were reportedly out of operation. By 2019, Guyana had said it was funding most, if not all, of the vessel’s maintenance because Suriname was struggling to meet its financial obligations.
The ferry has experienced repeated service suspensions because of mechanical failures, including a shutdown in 2019 that led to increased use of the informal “backtrack” route across the Corentyne River. Another engine failure in 2022 again disrupted the movement of people and goods between the two countries.
In 2023, the service reportedly completed 538 round trips, transporting 88,005 passengers and 14,466 vehicles, while recording a profit of $46.21 million.
The Guyana Government subsequently indicated that it planned to procure a new engine and undertake other repairs. In 2025, the SGCC proposed the public-private partnership to improve the vessel’s maintenance, docking facilities, management and overall efficiency.
Discussion