Barima ferry had 16 safety deficiencies months before sinking, inquiry hears

GEORGETOWN, Guyana. The Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Barima has heard that an inspection of the ferry in November 2025 recorded 16 deficiencies, including life rafts several years overdue for servicing.

The commission resumed after a two-week break, with its chairman, Justice Godfrey Smith, insisting that the US decision to revoke his visa would not overshadow its work.

The 87-year-old state-owned passenger and cargo ferry capsized and sank off the coast of Guyana on July 18, 2026, while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. More than 100 people died. Prime Minister Mark Phillips has said that although the manifest showed 116 passengers and 17 crew, the authorities believe 179 people, including crew, were on board when it was hit by a large wave.

Inspector's findings

Christopher Bailey, an inspector with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), said his inspection on November 17, 2025 involved checklist-based checks, equipment testing and recording deficiencies. The vessel was docked and not operating at the time.

Among his findings was an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon with an expired battery. He said the life rafts could not be opened because examining them required a specialised facility.

He observed about 200 to 250 life jackets in the passenger area and inspected them all. The radar, GPS and VHF radio were working and paper charts were on board, but no Automatic Identification System was fitted.

Bailey assessed the ferry's condition as fair, based on visual checks rather than a detailed structural survey, and saw no visible leaks or damage in the areas he examined.

He said he understood the state-owned ferry to be exempt from mandatory inspection, but that MARAD carried out the exercise as part of its safety responsibilities. His report was marked as seen by MARAD's Director of Safety on November 19, but he received no instruction to carry out a further inspection, and could not confirm whether the deficiencies were corrected before the sinking.

Bailey had been with MARAD for three months at the time.

Rescue at sea

Fisherman Haresh Singh, one of the first responders, told the commission that he set out with his brother and another fisherman in three boats from the Hampton Court koker after being called by Regional Chairman Devin Mohan and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Mandalall Ramraj.

He said the water was rough and dark, with waves "as high as a lamppost". Flares guided the rescuers to four life rafts. Three were empty; the fourth held 11 survivors, including children, who he said were in bad shape and spoke of losing loved ones to the water.