MV Barima comes to tragic end after 87 years

What this source establishes

Kaieteur News's route-and-vessel backgrounder, and the first domestic report in this corpus to give the manifest figure as 133 passengers and crew rather than 116 plus 17 stated separately. It states that the Barima became the sole vessel on the Port Kaituma route in 2019 after its sister ship the Lady Northcote was withdrawn, and that it had served the North West District for more than four decades without major incident. No other source in this corpus describes the full intended itinerary past the Essequibo mouth, the Pomeroon and Shell Beach to Iron Punt, then into the Barima River for Morawhauna, Kumaka and Mabaruma.

Figures cited in this source

67 rescued, 2 bodies recovered; 133 passengers and crew on manifest

Key claims

• Kaieteur News describes the MV Barima as 87 years old and its sinking as one of the nation's worst maritime disasters.
• The vessel went down about seven miles offshore near Iron Punt, in the vicinity of the Pomeroon River.
• According to the vessel's manifest, 133 passengers and crew, along with more than 200 tonnes of cargo, were on board.
• Up to press time 67 people had been rescued and two bodies recovered, with dozens missing.
• Authorities believe the actual number of passengers may have been higher, as several survivors were reportedly not listed on the manifest.
• The MV Barima had served the North West District route for more than four decades without any major incident.
• In 2019 it became the sole vessel servicing the Port Kaituma route after its sister ship, the Lady Northcote, was withdrawn from operation.
• The vessel departed the Transport and Harbours Department wharf at Kingston, Georgetown, at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday.
• Iron Punt is an area known for rough seas and waters ranging between three and nine metres deep.
• The office of the prime minister said the Guyana Coast Guard reached the disaster site at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.

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