MV Barima Was Not Overloaded Based On Load Line — MARAD Head

By Javone Vickerie | HGP Nightly News|

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Stephen Thomas, has defended the state’s regulatory oversight of the M.V. Barima, stating that official records rated the 87-year-old ferry to carry up to 394 passengers under prescribed loading conditions.

Speaking during a government press briefing on Tuesday, Thomas downplayed claims made by former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson that the vessel’s passenger capacity was strictly capped at approximately 150.

Thomas explained that the vessel’s design permits a sliding capacity scale depending on the total cargo tonnage on board. Under standard MARAD parameters, the M.V. Barima was rated for 394 passengers when carrying approximately 126 metric tons of cargo.

Variable Load Calculations vs. Inaccurate Passenger Lists

Addressing concerns regarding total weight, Thomas noted that passenger capacity and cargo tonnage must be calculated as an interdependent total. However, he acknowledged key administrative hurdles facing regulators:

• No Individual Passenger Weighing: Passengers are not weighed individually before boarding at the Kingston wharf, creating minor variances in total deadweight calculations.
• Discrepancies in the Master Manifest: Thomas admitted that authorities are still working to determine the exact number of people aboard due to inaccuracies in the initial passenger manifest.
• Cargo Adjustment Parameters: When less cargo is loaded, the vessel can safely accommodate a higher passenger complement up to its certified 394-passenger ceiling.

                       [ MARAD CERTIFIED CAPACITY PARAMETERS ]
                                         │
       ┌─────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────┐
       ▼                                                                   ▼
 [ Standard Mixed Rating ]                                         [ High-Cargo Rating ]
 - 394 Passengers                                                  - ~150 Passengers
 - ~126 Metric Tons Cargo                                          - ~268+ Metric Tons Cargo
 - Observed via Plimsoll / Load Line Marks                         - Dependent on fresh water draft depth

Load Line Assessment Supports Seaworthiness Claim

Despite the incomplete passenger manifest and unweighed cargo, Thomas maintained that visual checks performed prior to the ferry’s departure indicated the ship sat within legal draft limits.

“The vessels have load line markings on their hull indicating how deeply they can safely sit in the water,” MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas explained. “Based on the load line observations prior to departure, the mark was not submerged beyond its safe limit in fresh water. The investigation will examine all records, but based on the load line, the vessel was not overloaded.”

Comparison of Official Capacity Claims

As police ranks compile physical shipping records and technical dive teams inspect the sunken hull off the Essequibo Coast, MARAD’s load line determinations will form a primary focal point for both criminal investigators and the upcoming Commission of Inquiry.