Govt. ferries operating without stability documents, safety clearances – MARAD witness

(Kaieteur News) – Testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the July 18, 2026 MV Barima maritime disaster has exposed widespread regulatory failures at the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), with a senior marine official admitting that government-operated passenger ferries routinely operate without critical stability documentation and other statutory safety records.

The testimony of Marine Superintendent Christopher Bailey revealed that the safety deficiencies uncovered aboard the ill-fated MV Barima were not isolated shortcomings, but reflected deeper weaknesses in the regulatory system responsible for inspecting and certifying vessels carrying passengers across Guyana.

The inquiry heard that inspections were being conducted using inconsistent checklists, questionable statutory provisions and an agency with limited technical capacity to undertake the full surveys required to establish whether vessels are safe for operation.