Guyana is set to launch a critical infrastructure upgrade for its key maritime trade route next month, after officials signed an $11.2 million contract with regional dredging firm Boskalis CPG Inc. this Tuesday.
The project, first announced by Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar, will target a 9-kilometer stretch of the Demerara River’s navigational channel running between the communities of Houston and Golden Grove. Over a two-month construction period, crews will widen the channel to 100 meters and deepen it to 5 meters, addressing longstanding navigation challenges that have limited access for larger commercial vessels.
The official contract signing ceremony was held this week, with MARAD Director-General Stephen Fraser putting pen to paper on behalf of Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), which falls under Indar’s ministry. Senior government officials including Permanent Secretary Vishal Ambedkar, alongside leadership from both MARAD and Boskalis CPG, were in attendance to witness the milestone agreement.
In an official statement following the signing, the ministry outlined the far-reaching benefits the completed dredging work will deliver for Guyana’s economy. Once finished, deeper, wider waters will allow larger cargo vessels to access the Demerara channel safely and reliably, cutting wait times for shipping and boosting overall port efficiency. The upgrade is also expected to support the consistent, sustainable movement of domestic and international goods and services, strengthening the country’s entire maritime sector.
Minister Indar emphasized that the project comes directly in response to feedback from Guyana’s shipping industry, which has repeatedly called for additional dredging work to unlock the Demerara River’s full trade potential after years of increasing commercial activity along the waterway. Construction is scheduled to kick off in June 2026, with completion targeted for the end of the third quarter of the year.