Recovery efforts end as five MV Barima victims remain unidentified

The search and recovery operation following the sinking of the MV Barima has officially concluded, with authorities confirming that five of the recovered bodies remain unidentified. While the active recovery phase has ended, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) remains operational as authorities continue efforts to identify the remaining victims. The disaster has claimed the lives of 73 people, while another 30 passengers are still unaccounted for. Seventy-six people survived the tragedy. Attention has now shifted to recovering the wreck of the passenger and cargo vessel, which sank nearly two weeks ago off Guyana’s coast in one of the country’s deadliest maritime disasters. The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, has invited qualified marine salvage companies to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to undertake the complex recovery operation. According to MARAD, the 38.6-metre vessel is resting in soft mud at a depth of approximately 13 to 15 metres (42 to 49 feet), where poor underwater visibility, strong currents and tidal streams present significant challenges for divers and salvage crews. Rather than prescribing a recovery method, MARAD is requiring interested contractors to develop comprehensive technical proposals covering every phase of the operation, including preparing the wreck, lifting it safely and transporting it. A major requirement is that the salvage operation preserves and documents forensic evidence that could assist the international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established to determine the cause of the sinking. Contractors must also detail measures to minimise any environmental impact during the recovery. The government is seeking companies with proven experience in vessel salvage operations in Guyana or elsewhere in the Caribbean, particularly under difficult conditions involving poor visibility and strong currents. Interested firms must provide evidence of comparable projects completed within the past five to 10 years, including details of vessels recovered, water depths, salvage techniques employed and client references. The successful contractor will also be required to identify the specialist personnel and equipment to be deployed, provide an estimated timeline for mobilisation and completion of the operation, and demonstrate the capability to keep the recovered vessel upright on a barge for several weeks after it is raised. MARAD is further asking companies to indicate whether they are willing to undertake the work on a “no cure, no pay” basis or under another commercial arrangement, while confirming they have appropriate insurance coverage and robust health, safety and environmental management systems. Expressions of Interest must be submitted electronically by August 14, 2026. Following an evaluation of submissions, MARAD will shortlist suitable firms before issuing a formal request for proposals containing detailed technical specifications, site information and commercial terms. Meanwhile, the five-member Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy was sworn in last Thursday. President Dr. Irfaan Ali said the government would fully support the commission’s work, adding that its final report is expected to include recommendations for legislative, regulatory, institutional and operational reforms aimed at strengthening maritime safety, improving emergency response and preventing similar tragedies in the future.