Guyana and Suriname Race to Restore Suspended Corentyne Ferry
Guyana · TRANSPORT
Key Facts
- —Route The MV Canawaima links Moleson Creek in Guyana with South Drain in Suriname.
- —Suspension Suriname’s maritime authority halted the Guyana Suriname ferry on 22 August 2026.
- —Reason Inspectors cited missing safety gear and corrosion, with no dry-docking since 2021.
- —Interim Guyana opened a legal backtrack boat route from Springlands to Nickerie on 25 August.
- —Bridge The planned 1.1-kilometer Corentyne crossing carries an estimated cost of US$236 million.
The Guyana Suriname ferry has been idle since 22 August, and no restart date has been set.
The Guyana Suriname ferry across the Corentyne River has been out of service since 22 August 2026. Suriname’s maritime authority ordered the MV Canawaima out of operation, and no restart date has been announced.
What the Guyana Suriname ferry link actually is
The MV Canawaima runs between Moleson Creek in Guyana and South Drain in Suriname. The crossing spans the Corentyne River and is the only official road link between the two countries.
Canawaima Ferry Service Incorporated of Guyana and Canawaima Management Company NV of Suriname operate it jointly. Guyana supplies fuel, lubricants and batteries, while Suriname handles maintenance and dry-docking.
That split of duties now sits at the center of the dispute. The Guyana Suriname ferry stopped sailing on 22 August 2026 and has not returned.
Passengers were stranded at both terminals when the order took effect. Guyana offered a substitute vessel, and Suriname’s maritime authority turned it down.
Guyana says it is preparing to propose another vessel. Nothing had been agreed by 26 August 2026.
Why Suriname’s maritime authority stopped the vessel
The Maritime Authority of Suriname began pressing the operators in July 2026. It ordered an action plan on 26 July and re-inspected the ferry on 5 August.
Inspectors found missing life rafts, life buoys, life jackets and an emergency radio. They also questioned the thickness of the steel plating in the hull.
The vessel had not been dry-docked since 2021, according to Surinamese reporting. The authority set 13 August as its deadline and warned of a sailing ban.
The operators announced on 14 August that the ferry had passed a re-inspection. That clearance lasted barely a week.
A survey on 21 August then found significant corrosion needing investigation and repair. The same survey judged that the vessel could keep running for about three months.
The three-month argument between the two capitals
Guyana’s Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, leaned on that three-month finding. He said maritime experts from both countries had agreed the ferry could sail until dry-docking.
Suriname’s maritime authority disagreed and insisted that some work could not wait. It required those items immediately rather than during the planned dry-docking.
Edghill also noted where the duty lies. He said maintenance and dry-docking of the vessel fall under Suriname.
Both boards remain in close and continuous contact, according to statements from Georgetown. The ferry stayed idle while the two sides argued over the same survey.
How travelers are crossing the river now
Guyana formally opened the backtrack route from Springlands to Nickerie on 25 August. Small boats now carry people who would otherwise wait for the Guyana Suriname ferry.
Travelers must report to the immigration office at Moleson Creek Terminal before leaving Guyana. They must then report to the immigration office in Nieuw Nickerie on arrival.
Suriname’s Foreign Minister, Melvin Bouva, said the crossing must be legal and controlled. Returning passengers must be stamped out in Suriname before they board.
The informal route carries real risk. Guyanese outlets have reported drownings and missing passengers on backtrack boats in past years.
Neither government published fares or sailing times for the small boats. The regional chamber of commerce says passengers face unplanned accommodation and transport costs.
What officials say about a restart date
Suriname’s Transport Minister, Raymond Landveld, told parliament on 26 August that the work was nearly finished. He said the maritime authority’s requirements were virtually all done.
Hull measurements showed about 99 percent of tested areas met minimum thickness standards. Landveld expected clearance papers shortly and a return to service within days.
Any restart would be short lived, because dock maintenance is scheduled for 31 August 2026. The Guyanese vessel Sandaka is set to cover the route during that work.
No firm resumption date has been announced by either government. Officials in Georgetown say only that everything possible is being done.
Landveld also promised structural reform after years of weak management. He listed annual forecasts, regular reporting, technical audits and an update of the 1998 management agreement.
Traders want a second vessel and clearer rules
The Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce asked for clarity and a timeline on 24 August. It wants help for stranded passengers and for transport operators on both banks.
The chamber first proposed a public-private partnership for the service in February 2025. It argues that one aging ship should not carry an entire international route.
Guyanese business groups have wider complaints about the river. The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry asked in April 2026 to pause bridge talks over fees.
The Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry cited pilot license fees of up to US$2,500 per trip. It also cited broker charges of US$1,000 to US$1,500 per transaction.
Those charges fall on cargo vessels using the Corentyne River. The chamber called them exorbitant and beyond the reach of river users.
The bridge meant to replace the crossing
A fixed link has been discussed since a 2020 memorandum signed under President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. The planned bridge would run 1.1 kilometers from Moleson Creek to South Drain via Long Island.
Edghill announced in December 2024 that China Road and Bridge Corporation had been selected. The estimated cost was US$236 million, with both countries approaching China for financing.
The design would let vessels of up to 47,000 deadweight tonnes pass beneath. Clearance would be 100 meters horizontally and 43 meters vertically, with a 100-year design life.
Financing is still unsettled, and the disagreement has become public. In July 2026 Suriname said it had told President Irfaan Ali it would fund the bridge alone.
Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Hugh Todd, rejected that account. He said financing was not discussed at the 15 May 2026 meeting with President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons.
Until the bridge is built, the ferry remains the only official vehicle crossing. That single point of failure is what the chambers now criticize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Guyana Suriname ferry suspended?
Suriname’s maritime authority found safety deficiencies and corrosion on the MV Canawaima. It ordered immediate work rather than waiting for the scheduled dry-docking.
How can travelers cross the Corentyne River now?
Guyana opened a legal backtrack boat route from Springlands to Nickerie on 25 August. Passengers must clear immigration at Moleson Creek Terminal and in Nieuw Nickerie.
When will the ferry service resume?
No firm date has been announced by either government. Suriname’s transport minister said on 26 August that clearance was expected within days.
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