River Transport
Rivers are JP Knight’s traditional home. In Suriname, South America, our fleet of shallow-draft push tugs and hopper barges provide the transport link between bauxite mine and refinery over an intricate four-river system.
Whilst ship-handling of a very high order is required to handle each convoy through shallow, winding, yet fast-flowing waters, navigation in such an unforgiving environment carries a significant level of risk. To manage and reduce this operational exposure, JP Knight developed a system that was in 1996 certified to the International Safety Management Code, thereby becoming the World’s first tug and barge company to be so accredited.
Much of the reliability in the safe delivery of consistent tonnages depends upon skilled officers and well-drilled crews: the operation is tidally-restricted and hence passage planning and team-work are essential. Equally essential is the interface with loading and discharging facilities and it is team-work with the customer that has seen the effective transport of over 25 million tonnes of bauxite to date.
