Shipping rivals join forces to launch Guyana’s first mobile harbour cranes

Shipping companies John Fernandes Limited and Muneshwers Limited have set aside years of business rivalry to jointly commission Guyana’s first Mobile Harbour Cranes under Cranes Guyana Inc. (CGI).

This milestone marks significant progress in Guyana’s shipping and logistics sectors, underscoring the importance of innovation and modernisation in the maritime industry.

The companies secured US$14 million in funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the initiative. The cranes, named “Atlas” and “Hercules,” were commissioned on the wharves of the two shipping companies on Friday.

Private Sector Collaboration

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, delivering the keynote address at the commissioning ceremony, praised the companies for their collaborative approach, emphasising that economic expansion should take precedence over individual corporate interests.

“This is just the beginning of the pilot phase of this partnership,” the President said, adding that the government will aggressively pursue new initiatives with these companies.

He also urged Guyana’s private sector to embrace similar models of collaboration, stressing that competitors can work together in the national interest.

“I really want to congratulate you on seeing national interest above self-interest—on recognising the growth of Guyana beyond company interest and supporting economic expansion. Today, we celebrate collaboration over competition. Competition is necessary, but imagine the power of competition with collaboration—not to dominate the market, but to improve ease of business, create efficiency, and make us a stronger nation,” the President remarked.

He further emphasised that scalability is essential for Guyana’s growth.

“We can no longer operate at the scale we are accustomed to. The future of Guyana demands a new level of speed, efficiency, and skill. This project, by bringing companies together, has enabled optimal use of space and resources,” he added.

A Game-Changer

Director of Cranes Guyana Inc. and CEO of John Fernandes Limited, Phillip Fernandes highlighted the importance of the development.

Previously, vessels docking in Guyana had to carry their own cranes to load and offload cargo. At the time, cargo volumes were considered insufficient to justify such an investment. However, Fernandes said the time has now come for modernisation.

He also pointed out that local service providers designed and constructed the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the cranes.

The mobile harbour cranes, designed to serve Panamax-class vessels, have a lifting capacity of 125 tonnes.

“For the first time in Guyana, gearless vessels—those without onboard cranes—can now dock and be serviced here. This means faster and safer operations. It is a major improvement to what we’ve had before and a significant win for Guyana,” Fernandes stated.

He also noted that with Guyana’s rapidly growing economy, modernisation of the shipping industry is an important step in preparing for the anticipated increase in trade and cargo movement.

Future of Shipping in Guyana

Executive Director of Muneshwers Limited, Robin Muneshwer echoed these sentiments, stating that while the cranes have only been in operation for a few months, they have already become an integral part of port operations.

“This was a first for Guyana’s shipping community and a valuable lesson for the private sector. These cranes represent the future of Guyana’s shipping industry, the future of our companies, and our combined commitment to progress. The future beckons, and we must respond to its demands,” he said.

Muneshwer also revealed that the companies have been engaging the government regarding the development of a national port in Guyana.

Previously, vessel cranes—which travel aboard ships from port to port—were the primary means of loading and unloading cargo in Guyana. However, these cranes are space-consuming and operate at a slower rate, moving only 10 to 14 containers per hour.

Chandradatt Chintamani, General Manager of Muneshwers Limited, previously noted that Guyana was the only country in the Caribbean still relying on vessel cranes.

Before Guyana became an oil-producing nation, this system was sufficient for the country’s cargo demands. However, with a sharp increase in cargo traffic, traditional vessel crane operations are no longer efficient or viable.

The commissioning of Atlas and Hercules is expected to significantly improve port efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and support Guyana’s growing economy.