The shallow water vessel was launched during a special christening ceremony and luncheon held in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend.
The luncheon, planned to introduce current and potential customers to G&G’s new vessel, was addressed by a number of speakers, which included the Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchombe and G&G Chief Operations Officer Jim Hampel.
Other guests included the newly crowned Miss Bimini, who broke the ceremonial Champaign bottle over the hull of the vessel.
The newest of G&G’s 10 cargo ships, Sea Express II is approximately 190 feet in length, 38 feet in width and weighs just over a quarter of a million pounds.
According to G&G’s Chief Operations Officer, this vessel will allow for greater voyage frequency to its various ports of call.
“The Sea Express II will make up to 500 roundtrip voyages in its first two years, carrying up to 10,000 20 foot containers,” explained Ham-pel. “This will add another three to four voyages per week to the various ports of call in The Bahamas.”
The Sea Express II is expected to make its maiden voyage sometime today in Exuma.
Hampel explained that G&G considers this new vessel a milestone event and are very proud of it. He said that it is the first in a line of projects geared towards growth in the company.
In his opening remarks Minister Wilchombe thanked the executives of G&G for their continued commitment to economic growth in The Bahamas.
“As they work to help us build our Bahamas, we are developing anchor companies all over the country and just to know there is a development on every island of The Bahamas, we are pleased that G&G is a part of that,” he said. “It is because of them that most of the developers are able to do their business on time and see that things are working to their pleasure and ours.”
The minister went on to thank the company for their generous relief efforts after the devastating storms of 2004.
“The company that we looked to in the rebuilding of our island was G&G and they came and made themselves and their vessels available for us and helped us help our people and for that I say, thank you,” he said.
Reiterating Minister Wilchcombe’s message was none other than Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin who said that she too would like to commend the shipping company for their efforts.
After its start some 16 years ago in Andros, G&G Shipping has been providing timely, professional, and dependable freight shipping services to The Bahamas and the Caribbean.
G&G provides regular freighter service throughout The Bahamas for both large and small businesses making daily trips to many of the islands from Grand Bahma to Long Island and the Southern Caribbean.
G&G Shipping maintains a modern fleet of vessels with the latest technology and equipment designed to service a wide range of deep or shallow water ports.
With the companies special Roll-On-Roll-Off service, customers can ship to almost any location from low banks, beaches, or shallow waters in G&G’s ramped bow ships.
Aside from the Sea Express II, other vessels include the Viking Express, Island Express, Caribbean Express, Emerald Express, Gulfstream Express and the Bahama Pride.
Ports of call include Bimini, Cat Island, Drigg’s Hill, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Great Harbour Cay, Governor’s Harbour, Har-bour Island, Long Island, Morgan’s Bluff, Spanish Wells, West End and Providenciales.
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter
