After nearly 15 years of planning and anticipation, Saint Lucian entrepreneur Rayneau Gajadhar saw his vision come to life on October 28, 2024, at precisely 9:30 a.m. As the massive, bright orange tug vessel, aptly named Workforce, sailed into Port Castries, it symbolized the culmination of Gajadhar’s ambition and a new chapter in Caribbean maritime logistics. This powerful Anchor Handling Tug, designed primarily for handling and securing oil rig anchors, stands as one of the largest and most advanced vessels of its kind in the region. Equipped to also serve as an Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel and a supply transporter, Workforce boasts a carrying capacity of 1,558 metric tons and a fuel range that allows it to operate at sea for over two months.
“This is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” said Gajadhar, Managing Director of RG Group of Companies. “It’s a massive investment—two brand-new, state-of-the-art pieces of equipment. And it did not happen overnight. We’re talking from 2017 to 2024.” For Gajadhar, the journey has been as monumental as the vessel itself, marking both a financial and operational achievement for his company.
Workforce sailed in Port Castries towing Mokesh, a 330-foot-long, 80-foot-wide barge with a capacity of 7,450 metric tons. The journey from China to Saint Lucia took over four months, representing a significant logistical feat and further expansion of RG Group’s shipping capabilities. With this fleet, Gajadhar aims to reduce transportation costs for construction materials, equipment, and aggregates across the Caribbean, bringing increased efficiency to an essential sector. The two vessels provide Gajadhar’s company with the ability to transport large quantities of building materials between islands, facilitating business operations and helping lower costs in neighboring markets.
Gajadhar explained, “I have expanded into the aggregate business in each of the islands. We’re opening quarries across the region, and this fleet will help move equipment and products from one island to another. It’s going to lower the cost of doing business for me and the islands.” This cross-regional presence underscores his commitment to developing reliable infrastructure that can withstand the demands of Caribbean industries.
Workforce and Mokesh are only the beginning. Gajadhar’s company, Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd., has also invested in a second barge with a 4,000-metric-ton capacity and a smaller, more agile tug vessel. These additions will enable RG Group to manage more specialized and strategic deliveries, enhancing flexibility in meeting client needs across multiple islands.
Reflecting on the naming of Workforce, Gajadhar shared, “I asked one of my kids to come up with names, but we were in a hurry. I came up with Workforce—it’s going to be working, and it’s a force, so it fits. And Mokesh my eldest son had the honor of having our flagship barge named after him.”
The arrival of Workforce and its fleet partner Mokesh marks a milestone for Saint Lucia, symbolizing not only Gajadhar’s dream fulfilled but a transformative step in regional maritime logistics. This locally owned, state-of-the-art vessel ushers in a new era of efficiency, promising to make the transportation of essential construction materials more accessible and affordable across the Caribbean.
