By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Following weeks of sustained public outcry, candlelight vigils, and mounting pressure from grieving families, civil society, and opposition leaders, the Government of Guyana has taken its first concrete step toward recovering the ill-fated M.V. Barima.
The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), operating under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, has officially published a Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI), inviting experienced marine salvage contractors to bid on raising the 87-year-old passenger and cargo ferry from the Essequibo seabed.
Technical Requirements and Salvage Conditions
The M.V. Barima, which capsized on July 18 in Guyana’s deadliest maritime disaster, currently lies submerged in soft mud at a depth of 13 to 15 meters (42 to 49 feet) off the Essequibo Coast.
MARAD’s procurement notice outlines strict technical, environmental, and forensic requirements for prospective salvage firms:
- Operational Challenges: Bidding contractors must demonstrate proven experience operating in regional waters characterized by strong tidal currents and near-zero underwater visibility.
- Forensic Evidence Preservation: A core mandate requires bidders to detail specific methodologies for protecting and documenting physical evidence—including cargo weight distribution, mechanical components, and passenger compartments—for use by the newly sworn-in international Commission of Inquiry (COI).
- Recovery and Inspection Plan: Bidders must outline plans to safely lift the 38.6-meter steel vessel upright onto a transport barge, where it will remain secured for several weeks to allow marine accident investigators to conduct on-site forensic analysis.
[ SALVAGE PROCUREMENT & INVESTIGATIVE ROADMAP ]
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[ Procurement Timeline (August 14) ] [ COI & Forensic Objectives ]
- Submission of Expressions of Interest to MARAD - Recovery of unrecovered passenger remains
- Shortlisting of qualified regional/international firms - Forensic audit of engines, hull & cargo stowage
- Technical & commercial Request for Proposals (RFP) - Evidence presentation to COI chaired by Justice Smith
Policy Shift Driven by Community Advocacy
The decision to issue salvage tenders represents a noticeable shift in executive policy. Previously, government officials had floated the idea of designating the wreck site as a permanent offshore underwater memorial—a proposal that met fierce opposition from victims’ relatives, who demanded the physical recovery of their loved ones’ remains and an uncompromised investigation.
“MARAD is requiring bidders to outline how they intend to protect and document forensic evidence during the salvage process for use by the Commission of Inquiry,” report details confirm. “Contractors must demonstrate their ability to lift the vessel upright onto a barge for several weeks while complying with national maritime, environmental, and occupational safety regulations.”
Expressions of Interest must be submitted electronically to MARAD by close of business on Friday, August 14, 2026, after which shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit final technical and financial proposals.
