Diamond Property Management, Inc. (DPM)/ Diamond Shorebase Inc (DSB) has eyed the construction of a new dock facility at Friendship, on Guyana’s East Bank corridor, in response to the increasing demand for port infrastructure as the country’s oil sector continues to blossom.
The Friendship Port Development facility, according to public project documents will have a covered berth area spanning 130,000 square feet (sq ft) with the capacity to accommodate three ships at a time, all complete with 25-tonne overhead cranes. It will also have water, power, fuel and drilling fluids loading capabilities.
Additionally, the dock will feature a 300ft x 100ft concrete dock, with heavy lift crane capacity and three acres of laydown area. It will also have 4000 sqft office building, complete with administrative offices and lockers. Logistics support is also being provided along with private septic treatment systems.
According to the document, the overall capital investment for this project is estimated at US$25 million. There are expected to be approximately 10 workers required to operate and maintain the facility during its operation.
Products and materials transported to the facility will be done by both trucks and also offloading vessels at the facility. The vast majority of products outgoing from the facility will be via platform supply vessels (PSV) bound for production or drilling rigs.
Dredging activities will be required in the marine dock area along the east bank of the Demerara River in order to achieve the required berth depths for the PSVs. Prior to the commencement of pile driving and dock installation, this work will be performed via a cutter head dredge which will then transport the spoil material to locations only indicated by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
Dredging activities will be continuously monitored via survey vessels which will measure bathymetry to verify necessary elevations are met.
Once approved, total construction is expected to last 16 months.
