By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Emergency crews are working urgently off the coast of Guyana following the capsizing of a passenger ferry carrying 116 people. The vessel, identified as the MV Barima, encountered disaster late Saturday night while traveling between the capital city of Georgetown and Port Kaituma.
Incident details and distress response
The ferry went down near Iron Punt, an area along its northern coastal route. Official records indicate the vessel issued a distress call at approximately 11:00 p.m. local time on Saturday. Guyana’s Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, confirmed that the alert triggered an immediate mobilization of state resources and private vessels to the site.
The MV Barima is a 40-meter (131-foot) vessel originally constructed in 1939. While the cause of the accident remains unknown, government officials have prioritized the recovery mission over the investigation into the circumstances of the sinking.
Ongoing rescue operations
Prime Minister Mark Phillips is leading the government’s emergency response efforts. According to the Prime Minister, 53 individuals have been pulled from the water as of Sunday. Officials expressed cautious optimism that number of survivors will increase as search efforts continue during daylight hours.
Minister Edghill confirmed that medical personnel have been dispatched to the rescue zone to provide trauma care to survivors “as soon as they are rescued.” In a video statement posted to social media, Edghill addressed the nation, stating, “There is an active search and rescue operation that is taking place, and we pray for the safety of all.”
Vessel safety equipment and capacity
Questions regarding the vessel’s regulatory compliance have emerged following the incident. Minister Edghill stated that the MV Barima was equipped with necessary maritime safety gear, including 250 life jackets. The manifest also reportedly included two rigid life crafts and six inflatable life crafts, totaling eight lifeboats intended for emergency evacuation.
The joint operation continues to involve the Guyana Coast Guard alongside various private maritime entities. Authorities have yet to release a definitive timeline for the remainder of the search or provide specific details regarding the status of the missing passengers.
As the search persists, the focus remains squarely on the humanitarian imperative of locating survivors and supporting those affected by the maritime tragedy. The government has pledged transparency as investigators prepare to examine the vessel’s maintenance history and the precise events that led to the midnight distress call.
