MV Barima disaster: Engineer lacked maritime certification, search faced obstacles, rescue logs relied on media

(Kaieteur News) – The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the fatal capsizing of the MV Barima on Monday exposed troubling gaps in vessel maintenance, maritime safety procedures and the coordination of the initial search-and-rescue operation, with testimony revealing that the vessel’s chief engineer lacked formal maritime certification for his position, mandatory safety drills were not being conducted, and official rescue records relied on figures obtained from media reports.

The disclosures emerged during Monday’s resumed hearings at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where commissioners examined the operational preparedness of the vessel, the limitations confronting military aircraft during the early search, and the accuracy of information recorded by the authorities as rescuers worked to locate passengers and crew following the July 18, 2026 disaster.

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Taken together, the testimonies raise questions about whether adequate systems were in place to maintain the vessel, ensure compliance with safety requirements, and coordinate an emergency response when the MV Barima got into difficulty.