Authorities are assessing the damage the MV Barima sustained after a fire erupted in the engine room of the vessel yesterday.
The Public Works Ministry, along with the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), in a statement on Wednesday said the vessel caught afire at about 11:30h after a gas pump exploded in the engine room. The incident occurred whilst cargo was being offloaded from the vessel, but the fire was brought under control.
The MV Barima is currently at Port Kaituma in Region One (Barima-Waini). The vessel had departed Port Georgetown on February 27 and arrived at Port Kaituma on February 28.
MV Barima on fire [Carl Fraser photo]
Officials from T&HD as well as the ministries of Public Works and Home Affairs are working “as a matter of urgency to verify the source of the fire and the extent of the damage done to the vessel”.
The T&HD is also currently engaging external engineers to assist in conducting an immediate investigation into this incident, and to provide a full report on the cause of the fire.
The public has also been assured that all attempts would be made to ensure that the service is back in operation at the soonest possible time.
