Published: July 22, 2026
By: TAD Editorial Team
GEORGETOWN, Guyana —
Authorities in Guyana have recovered at least 27 bodies after a passenger ferry carrying 179 people capsized off the country’s northern Atlantic coast, while rescue teams continue searching for 83 passengers who remain missing in one of the nation’s deadliest maritime disasters in recent years.
Officials said 69 people have been rescued since the vessel overturned late Saturday during a voyage from the capital, Georgetown, to the remote community of Port Kaituma. Search operations remain underway across an expanded section of the Atlantic Ocean as hopes fade for finding additional survivors.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips said rescue teams are continuing operations around the clock despite difficult conditions.
Passenger Numbers Revised Upward
Authorities initially believed the MV Barima was carrying 133 passengers. However, after reviewing surveillance footage recorded during boarding, investigators determined the vessel actually departed with 179 people on board.
The discrepancy has complicated rescue efforts and raised serious concerns about passenger registration procedures.
Officials later confirmed that several survivors were not listed on the ferry’s official manifest, making it difficult for emergency responders to determine exactly how many people remain unaccounted for.
The inaccurate passenger list has become a major focus of the ongoing investigation.
Emergency Call Triggered Massive Rescue Effort
According to government officials, air traffic control received a distress call from the ferry shortly before 11 p.m. local time on Saturday, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue operation.
The ferry capsized approximately seven miles (11 kilometers) off Guyana’s North Atlantic coastline.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said rescue efforts during the first hours were severely hampered by darkness and limited equipment.
Without vessels equipped with advanced scanning technology, rescue teams initially relied on visual observation and sound while searching the waters overnight.
As daylight arrived, additional government agencies and private-sector partners joined the operation.
Companies from Guyana’s oil and gas industry deployed specialized vessels equipped with scanning equipment, while divers were sent into the submerged ferry to search for victims trapped inside.
Authorities also expanded the official search area from 400 square kilometers to more than 1,040 square kilometers.
Crew Members Taken Into Custody
Investigators are examining several possible factors that may have contributed to the disaster.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill confirmed that the captain and other crew members have been taken into police custody while authorities investigate the incident.
Initially, officials said there was no evidence of negligence by the ferry operator.
However, later on Sunday, Edghill revealed that the captain and at least one crew member tested positive for marijuana, raising additional questions about operational safety.
Officials stressed that investigators are still determining whether drug use played any role in the accident.
Questions Raised Over Safety Procedures
Authorities also acknowledged that passenger registration procedures appear to have broken down before departure.
Several survivors were found not to appear on the ferry’s official passenger list, while the final number of people onboard exceeded the original count provided to emergency responders.
Officials said these inaccuracies significantly delayed rescue planning because emergency teams were initially searching for far fewer passengers than were actually aboard the vessel.
Meanwhile, government records indicate the ferry underwent maintenance in 2024 and had been scheduled for another major dry-docking inspection later this year.
Investigators are reviewing maintenance records alongside crew actions and operational procedures.
Families Left Waiting for Answers
The tragedy has devastated families across Guyana.
Among the survivors was passenger Leon Murray, who told local media that roughly four hours after leaving Georgetown, someone shouted that the ferry was sinking.
After the vessel overturned, Murray managed to reach the surface wearing a life jacket.
He later found his son and several other survivors clinging to floating debris.
While both father and son survived, Murray said his wife, daughter and four grandchildren remain missing.
“Six of them gone,” he told reporters.
His family’s story reflects the heartbreak now facing dozens of families still waiting for news of missing loved ones.
Government Launches Multiple Investigations
Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed that several investigations have been launched into the disaster.
In addition to examining the cause of the sinking, authorities are investigating whether members of the police, defense force and maritime administration may have committed misconduct or failed to enforce existing regulations.
Phillips pledged that any negligence or criminal wrongdoing uncovered during the investigation would be met with legal action.
Government officials have also promised a full review of ferry safety procedures and passenger management systems.
Why It Matters
The sinking of the MV Barima is one of Guyana’s worst maritime disasters in recent years and has highlighted concerns over passenger safety, emergency preparedness and regulatory oversight. The investigation could lead to significant reforms in ferry operations as authorities seek to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
TAD Perspective
The disaster underscores how accurate passenger records, strict operational standards and effective emergency planning are essential for public transportation. While rescue operations remain the immediate priority, the investigation is expected to examine whether human error, safety failures or regulatory shortcomings contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
Sources
- Reuters
- CNN
- Bangkok Post
- Egypt Independent
- The Independent Ireland
