MV Barima CoI: MARAD cites communication gaps, difficulty verifying distress signal
Politics
Legal
October 23, 2026
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Communication gaps emerged as a major weakness in the emergency response to the sinking of the MV Barima, with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD)’s Emergency Operations Coordinator, Captain John Flores, acknowledging that inadequate communication systems hampered his ability to provide clear instructions during the critical hours of the operation.
Flores addressed the communication shortcomings on Thursday, during Commission of Inquiry (CoI) hearings, when questioned by Commissioner Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard about aspects of the response procedures that had left him dissatisfied.
“Communication was a big issue on the night, which is what we are now seeking to address,” he stated.
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