MV Barima was not overloaded – MARAD Director General

What this source establishes

INews Guyana carries the fullest statement of the government's technical case. MARAD's Captain Stephen Thomas argues the barely-submerged load line at Georgetown does not indicate overloading because load lines are calibrated for seawater, and that modern thinner high-strength steel means age does not reduce capacity. Edghill states that the crew reported no engine troubles either inbound or outbound, contradicting Leon Murray's account of an engine cutting out at 7 p.m. and being repaired at sea. Thomas concedes that whether weight was properly distributed is for the investigation. The report also records that the replacement Kalliopi N had already arrived and that Edghill called the timing unfortunate.

Figures cited in this source

179 persons aboard including 18 crew members

Key claims

• MARAD Director General Captain Stephen Thomas said that based on his knowledge the MV Barima was not overloaded.
• Thomas said the ferry has capacity to carry some 126 tonnes of cargo along with some 390 passengers, and capacity can vary with the cargo/passenger mix.
• Thomas said the load line was 'barely submerged' on departure from Georgetown, which does not indicate overloading because load lines cater for going out to sea; fresh water density means the vessel floats higher at sea.
• Thomas said modern ships use thinner steel with double the strength of older steel, so ships can carry more cargo because they are lighter.
• Thomas said the investigation would have to determine whether weight on the MV Barima was properly distributed.
• Minister Juan Edghill said there were no reported engine troubles from the crew when the boat came in or when it left.
• The Georgetown to Region One route is also serviced by the MV Kimbia, a refurbished older vessel, and the MV Ma Lisha acquired in 2023.
• The MV Kalliopi N, which arrived this year, will be put into operation soon on the Georgetown to Region One route; Edghill said 'This is just an unfortunate time that the Barima went down before we could get it replaced.'
• The MV Barima departed the Georgetown stelling at about 15:00h on Saturday carrying 179 persons including 18 crew members and cargo.
• Survivors recalled the ferry began listing to one side before capsizing; a distress signal was transmitted at approximately 23:01h.
• Blood samples from the captain and crew tested positive for cannabis; the captain and two crew members were arrested.

Quotations

• “The capacity can vary if you have a full load of cargo...so if you have less passengers, you can carry more weight”— Stephen Thomas, Director General, MARAD
• “doesn't indicate overloading because load lines are catered for when you go out to sea”— Stephen Thomas, Director General, MARAD
• “Now, you use thinner steel but double the strength of the older steel, so in other words, the ships can carry more cargo”— Stephen Thomas, Director General, MARAD
• “there was no reported engine troubles from the crew when the boat came in and when the boat left, there was no reported engine troubles”— Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works
• “This is just an unfortunate time that the Barima went down before we could get it replaced”— Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works

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