8 deaths from boating mishaps in 2016 – MARAD

Eight persons lost their lives as a result of boat accidents and incidents in Guyana’s waters during the course of 2016, according to Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Director Claudette Rogers.
During a presentation at the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s year-end press conference, Rogers disclosed that last year there were six boat accidents resulting in five deaths and three boat incidents resulting in three deaths.
This was compared against six accidents resulting in four deaths and 12 incidents resulting in 14 deaths in 2015.
Additionally, the MARAD Director highlighted that there were no reports of piracy for the years 2015 and 2016.
Rogers pointed out that in light of these continuous accidents and incidents on the waterways, three Maritime Safety Centres have been established and are operational at Bartica, Charity and Mabaruma.
“These centres will assist in regularising the licensing of boat operators and boats in the areas, and improve on maritime safety,” she explained.
Moreover, the MARAD Director disclosed that the Department continued with its life jacket distribution as part of its promotion of maritime safety.
To this end, approximately 100 life jackets were distributed last year to students in Moruca, Pomeroon River, Watooba, Malali and Husururu.
She went on to outline that 11 of 14 buoys were positioned in the Demerara ships’ channel with the remaining three to be positioned this year.
Further looking back on the past year, the MARAD Director noted that in 2016 the Department focused on wrecks removal, that is, mobilising for the salvaging and removal of two main wrecks in the harbour of Georgetown – the MS ELLISA vessel which sank on June 5, 2012 and DAR B which sank on October 27, 2014.
She continued that during last year, some 1128 vessels were piloted in the Demerara River compared to 944 in 2015, while some 107 vessels were piloted in last year against 90 the previous year.
In relation to dredging, Rogers reported that continuous dredging of the Demerara main ships’ channel has resulted in a recorded depth of 5.4 metres chart datum. She added with this and a 2.8 metres rise of tide, the Georgetown Port can now accommodate a vessel with an 8.2 metres draught.
“That in itself means also that the vessel can carry an additional 1000 tonnes more cargo loaded,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rogers stated that with the intervention of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and for the first time in eight years, Guyana has been successful in gaining approval for a nominee to attend the World Maritime University.
She added that an additional 16 cadets have commenced training at the MatPal Marine Institute. This group, she noted, will further enhance capacity building within MARAD.
Moreover, she noted that the US Coast Guard has conducted its bi-annual assessments on the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code at the various port facilities in Guyana, and it is anticipated that the report will be favourable.
Additionally, MARAD officials held training and sensitisation sessions with boat operators in the Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine on the improvement of maritime safety measures, in keeping with the relevant maritime practices and regulations.
With regard to 2017 projects, Rogers disclosed that MARAD would be employing an architectural engineer to determine the structural soundness of the wharves within the harbours of Guyana. She added that too that the Department would be formulating policies in keeping with the standard requirements for the registration of vessels and crew operating on behalf of ExxonMobil.
In addition, the Department will be implementing port tug services for the docking and undocking of vessels, which will increase operational safety, efficiency and effectiveness for mooring and unmooring operations.
In 2017, MARAD will also push to establish additional safety centres in other regions of Guyana as well as commence works on the construction of a head office.
A plot of land has already been located for this, Rogers noted.