Boat captains strengthen safety, emergency response skills

Nineteen tourism industry participants took part in a Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) and Maritime Boat Captain Refresher Course hosted by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).

The training was facilitated by Jenell Williams-Pinder and Captain Courtney McDonald, Director of Maritime Safety at MARAD.
The session, hosted last week, focused on refreshing participants’ knowledge of health, safety, security, and environmental practices, as well as key requirements for the safe operation of vessels.
Participants also reviewed practices aimed at ensuring they are better prepared to respond appropriately to emergencies while operating on the country’s waterways.
The course is part of the GTA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen safety standards within the tourism industry.
According to the GTA, the initiative is intended to ensure tourism operators and boat captains have the knowledge and skills necessary to operate vessels safely and manage emergency situations.
The collaboration with MARAD, it GTA stated, also provides an opportunity to reinforce maritime safety requirements among tourism operators whose activities involve the transportation of visitors by boat.