Billion-dollar court battle looms...

Background

The collision occurred just about 2am on October 8th after the MV Tradewind Passion crashed into the bridge damaging four spans. At the time, the Panamanian registered vessel was navigating the channel to offload fuel at GuyOil’s Providence Terminal.

The vessel shifted the bridge about 45 degrees out of alignment while damaging spans 8,9,10 and 11. The damage has been labelled as extraordinary and requires a lot of technical work to restore the bridge to its previous state.

DHB Company Ship Supervisor, Andy Duke was also seriously injured after he was forced to jump from a tower to get to safety.

Apart from implementing several policies in keeping with international standards and the requirement for annual medical tests for river pilots, the Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the accident has since recommended that the conduct of pilots and ships’ masters should be documented.

Once implemented, these new measures are likely to see some changes in the operation of the DHB, particularly as it relates to river traffic.

The report disclosed that the final cost of the damage as a result of the accident is estimated at about US$5 million which is equivalent to $1B, and counting.

The repair works on the 42-year-old bridge involve the replacement of two pontoons that were damaged as a result of the impact. Additionally, a number of supporting structures had to be completely replaced.

The repair works were undertaken by both the government and private sector bodies.

The report pointed out some of the damage caused to the bridge as well as the vessel which were both visited as part of the inquiry.

This includes two sets of 15-pile clusters on the north western side of the bridge being mowed down, damage to a pontoon, damage to the special connecting posts at spans 7/8 and 11/12, severe damage to the transom beams at spans 7/8 and 11/12 as well as the transom beam under the ramp and damage to about 15 anchor blocks.

Both the eastern and western sections of the bridge were also forced out of original and alignment at approximately 45 degrees southwest, and northeast, respectively, the report said.

As it relates to the Tradewind Passion vessel, it was noted that there was damage to the starboard bow resulting from the impact with the bridge and the interior frame of the starboard bow.

Make preparations

The NDC had earlier received a lawyer’s letter from Mohamed Sons and Daughters Trading, directing it to make preparations for the passing of the transport, a development which set off alarm bells among residents, who feared efforts were still being made to take their lands despite the disavowal by JFL.

At a recent protest in front of the company’s Water Street offices, residents noted that JFL appears unperturbed that it had transferred its interest in a matter where private holdings are at stake, property that the NDC has no control over.

McRae noted that if JFL was no longer interested in the land, they should not have gone to a third party, rather they should have simply asked the NDC for the $20 million refund. “Why [did they] have to go to a third party…?” McRae questioned.

“We have not given anyone permission to transfer our properties – to sell, lease, rent or occupy and we will challenge the council’s right to attempt to [usurp] our lands,” he added.

“John Fernandes would have published a notice in the Stabroek newspaper where they would have indicated that they have no interests - that they’re distancing themselves from any agent or anyone whatsoever who are claiming to have some vested interest in the lands located in Section G, BV,” he related before noting that to the council’s surprise, it received the notice of the court action filed on behalf of Mohamed Sons and Daughters, although it thought the matter had been put to rest.

Hamilton posited that as far as he sees it, the mystery company involved makes the issue even more questionable, but hopes the matter is soon resolved.

“The story has taken a dastardly twist. [JFL] is saying they have no interest anymore but you have a phantom company… now saying they have some interest because they were acting as the real estate interest”, Hamilton said .