The facilities for the large scale export of bauxite from the Berbice River had been in service for many years and required updating. Fundamental changes were needed, to include the provision of a refurbishment procedure so that modern practices could be introduced and the port could continue as a market leader in its field.

Beckett Rankine visited and inspected the barge loading facilities. A report was prepared aimed at maximising efficiency throughout the river operations. New, modern equipment such as updated barges, were proposed so that raw materials could be transported as efficiently as possible.

To enable an increased rate of transportation, the river basin was dredged to give access to larger ships. The barges were renovated in a floating dry dock to prevent leakage and they were fitted with new pre-installed drying equipment to maximise efficiency.