The main objectives of this project are:

1. To provide access to the Atlantic Ocean for the rapidly indutrializing states of Northern Brazil;

2. to enable access to large and gearless vessels, which would reduce transshipment costs and the overall ocean freight rates for imports/exports to/from Guyana; and

3. better enable Guyana to export its vast mineral resources.

It is being proposed to develop a deep water harbour with multiple berths, a Ship Dry Dock, and a special economic zone.

In the first phase, the harbour would be accompanied by a single, multipurpose berth to accomodate container vessels of Panamax size.

An area has been identified for this project at the mouth of the Berbice River, where there is adequate channel depth and the availability of a large tract of land.

A report on the "Construction of Deep Water Port at New Amsterdam, Berbice River of Guyana" has been carried out by a study team from the Ministry of Shipping of India.

The Governments of Guyana and Brazil have setup a Joint Working Group on Infrastructure that is currently discussing the modalities for the financing of a Deep Water Port at New Amsterdam.  A joint report with concrete actions and decisions is due to be completed by end of June 2013.

It is envisaged that a more comprehensive Feasibility Study and Designs will have to be done to establish costs and benefits to this project.