MV Barima CoI… Only one in 10 distress beacons registered, caused major delays in rescue response
Legal
Politics
October 15, 2026
Share this article
Click to view full size
(Kaieteur News) – The emergency distress beacon aboard the ill-fated MV Barima was not registered with the global satellite system that aids search and rescue tracking, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the ferry disaster heard on Monday during its opening public hearings at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
The systemic failure left aviation and maritime authorities unable to match the signal’s unique identification code to records detailing the vessel, its owner, or emergency contacts during the crucial initial hours of the tragedy.
The MV Barima sank off the Essequibo Coast while en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma late on July 18, 2026. Out of the 179 passengers and crew on board, at least 100 people lost their lives, with over 30 bodies still unrecovered and 76 survivors rescued.
Legal
Politics
Need the bigger picture?
Share this article
Comments (0)
Download our mobile app
The portable companion to gazettE. Get notifications, track read articles, and more. The latest news from Trinidad and Tobago, in one place.
