The GRSE-made ocean-going passenger plus cargo ferry dubbed MV Ma Lisha for the Cooperative Republic of Guyana was successfully delivered as well as commissioned on 23 April at Georgetown in Guyana.
In a statement, the GRSE reported it is the country’s only shipbuilder to have built and designed an ocean-going passenger-cum-cargo ferry and successfully delivered it to a South American country that is at a sailing distance of more than 11,500 nm from Kolkata.
The President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr Mohammad Irfan Ali, mentioned that the relationship between India and Guyana is critical for both these countries and that MV MA Lisha has paved a path that is filled with friendship and one that symbolizes the relationship between Guyana and India cementing the values of trust, democracy, honour, respect, and one where we see the development of individuals of both the nations as a top priority.
In the commissioning ceremony of the vessel, S Jaishankar, the Indian External Affairs Minister reportedly lauded the efforts of the GRSE and said that despite the challenges of Covid-19, which followed right after the deal for the supply of the ferry had been signed, it’s worth mentioning that the ferry was successfully delivered on time. He also congratulated GRSE.
The Chair and MD of GRSE, Commodore PR Hari, IN, mentioned that GRSE possesses the capability to develop marine platforms that range from five-ton vessels to even 24600-ton fleet tankers, from warships to commercial vessels.
Reference: The Times of India, Millennium Post