MV Barima early rescue "very chaotic" amid missing tracking gear

(Kaieteur News) – Testimony from Captain Flores, Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Division at MARAD before the ongoing commission of inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy has laid bare severe communication breakdowns, non-functional or missing tracking equipment, and a lack of coordination among rescue crews operating “in silos” during the critical early hours of the emergency.

During the hearing on Friday, the commissioner and Captain Flores examined the legislative framework governing State vessels, the absence of required safety equipment, and the communication failures between air, sea, and land units that left rescuers scrambling with conflicting coordinates.

Full coverageChristopher Bailey Details MV Barima Safety Failures at Guyana Inquiry12 reports

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A central point of contention during the session involved the legal obligations of State-operated vessels under Guyana’s maritime laws. Reviewing page 36 of the legislation referenced from the previous day’s hearing, specifically Section 3 of part 1 of the Shipping Casualties Investigation and Prevention Act, Commissioner Nyree Alfonso challenged the notion that government vessels are exempt from safety inspections and certifications.