Work on GAICO Construction and General Services Inc.’s dry dock laydown and storage yard at Nismes Foreshore, West Bank Demerara is moving apace with the company on track for phase one to be completed in October.
Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Komal Singh told OilNOW the facility will then be “open to international vessels.”
That first phase construction includes the laydown area spanning six acres with heavy lift capacity of 10 tons per square metre. This will be done using geotextile fabric along with white sand, loam and first-grade crusher run.
“We had some delays because of the weather and materials but we are still on schedule for October,” he highlighted.
The second phase of the project will see the construction of finger piers – a narrow pier section projecting from the dock ramp.
According to Singh, the project will complement all the other proposed developments for the West Bank Demerara area inclusive of the planned Gas-to-Energy pipeline which will pass through Crane and land at Wales.
It is also expected to improve the docking facilities for international ships on the West Bank Demerara area since there is currently no proper wharf facility available for the mooring and unmooring of international vessels.
The project is also seen as an apt addition to the community, generating much needed employment opportunities for laid off workers of the depressed Wales area since the closure of the sugar estate.
“With the construction phase, we have about close to 80 persons and when the project is completed and running fully, we will have about 100 persons, because we will be running the facility on a 24-hour basis,” he explained.
In addition, contractors and suppliers will also have an opportunity to develop operations on vacant lands in close proximity to offer auxiliary services.
GAICO’s investment in the project is in excess of US$25M (GYD$ 5,234,170,000.)
GAICO has been serving Stabroek Block operator ExxonMobil for over five years and has matured into one of the company’s key Guyanese partners in the sector.
GAICO’s prominence has also allowed it to seal a partnership with Guyana Shorebase Inc. (GYSBI) to further develop waste management capacity and boost the training and hiring of more locals to service the oil and gas industry.
