The 87-year-old MV Barima sank off Guyana's Essequibo coast, leaving an estimated 100 people dead and dozens missing. Rescue teams recovered 65 bodies and 76 survivors so far; divers are searching for nearly 40 more. Survivors allege the vessel was overloaded with passengers and heavy cargo and that engine trouble and delayed rescues worsened the outcome. Authorities say a full Maritime Agency investigation will determine responsibility and the prime minister has pledged prosecutions if negligence is found.
Families Demand Answers After Guyana Ferry Sinks; About 100 Believed Dead
A map showing where a ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana. (AP Digital Embed)(AP Photo/Will Jarrett)
GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The sinking of the 87-year-old state-operated ferry MV Barima has left an estimated 100 people dead and dozens missing, intensifying public anger and calls for answers as a formal investigation proceeds.
Rescue, Recovery and Human Toll
Authorities say 76 of roughly 179 people believed to have been aboard survived the disaster. By Wednesday, search teams had recovered 65 bodies while divers — assisted by naval assets from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago — continued searching for nearly 40 more. Dozens of relatives have remained in the riverside town of Charity, holding out hope that missing loved ones will be found.
“I know my baby is in that boat,” said Samantha Ramin, who lost two of her three children. Crews recovered the body of her young daughter; her infant son remains missing.
Allegations of Overloading and Delayed Rescue
Survivors have accused the vessel of being overloaded with both passengers and heavy cargo, including engines, several vehicles, large fuel containers, all-terrain vehicles and commercial freight. Some survivors told reporters they spent hours in the water before rescue teams reached them, raising questions about the speed and coordination of the response.
One frequent passenger, Leon Murray, said the ferry was more heavily loaded on this voyage than on previous crossings: “The people load, load, load the steamer — it was packed, packed, packed all downstairs,” he said. Murray and others also reported that engine problems occurred hours after departure and that crew members repaired problems en route rather than returning to port. Survivors said crew dismissed concerns about water entering the vessel.
FILE - People sit on the seawall as the sun sets in Georgetown, Guyana, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Official Response and Investigation
Government officials have maintained that official capacity figures indicate the ferry was not overloaded, but they acknowledged conflicting witness accounts make immediate conclusions difficult. Maritime Agency Director Stephen Thomas told The Associated Press that authorities are awaiting the results of a comprehensive investigation, which will examine loading practices, vessel condition and supervisory decisions.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips defended the process: “We have nothing to hide,” he said, adding that anyone found guilty of negligence, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing will face the full force of the law. Police have detained the rescued captain and at least one other crew member, the latter reportedly testing positive for marijuana.
Vessel Condition and Replacement Plans
The MV Barima, built 87 years ago, was last dry-docked for major repairs in 2024 and had been scheduled for additional work in October. Officials said the ferry remained in service while the government awaited completion of a special pier at Port Kaituma needed to accommodate a new $12.7 million replacement vessel recently acquired from India; work on the pier is reported to be at an advanced stage.
The investigation is expected to clarify how many people and what types of cargo were onboard, the condition of the vessel at departure, the timeline of events, and whether rescue efforts met expected standards.
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