GEORGETOWN, Guyana — A major search-and-rescue operation remained underway on Sunday after the passenger ferry MV Barima capsized off Guyana's Atlantic coast while en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, leaving dozens of passengers unaccounted for as authorities raced against time to locate survivors.
The vessel departed Georgetown at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Saturday on its regular voyage to Port Kaituma in Region One (Barima-Waini). At approximately 11:01 p.m., the ferry transmitted a distress call after encountering difficulty near Iron Punt, prompting one of the largest maritime rescue operations in recent years.
According to Guyanese authorities, the MV Barima was carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew members, for a total of 133 people on board. By Sunday morning, 67 people had been rescued, including 41 men, 11 women and 15 children, while search teams continued looking for those still missing.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, who is coordinating the government's response, said every available resource had been mobilized.
"Our effort is aimed at rescuing everyone who was on that ferry," the Prime Minister said, noting that multiple rescue vessels, aircraft and emergency personnel had been deployed to the area. Medical teams have also been positioned to treat survivors, while family support centers have been established in Georgetown and Port Kaituma to assist anxious relatives awaiting news.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill confirmed that the rescue operation involved the Guyana Defense Force, the Coast Guard, commercial vessels and fishing boats operating in the area. Early Sunday morning, survivors were located after rescue aircraft spotted distress flares in the water, allowing emergency responders to begin retrieving passengers.
Authorities have cautioned against speculation regarding the cause of the accident. Edghill rejected suggestions that the vessel was overloaded, stating that the ferry was equipped with 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts and six inflatable life rafts. Based on initial accounts from survivors, officials believe challenging tidal and sea conditions may have contributed to the disaster, although a full investigation will determine the exact cause.
The MV Barima serves as a critical transportation link between Georgetown and Guyana's remote northwestern communities, providing both passenger and cargo service to Region One. The vessel is considered a lifeline for many Indigenous and hinterland communities that depend on maritime transport for travel, commerce and supplies. Earlier this year, the Government of Guyana announced significant rehabilitation works for the ferry because of its importance to the North West District.
As rescue efforts continued throughout Sunday, authorities urged the public to rely only on official information while crews searched an extensive section of the Atlantic waters off Guyana's coast. At the time of publication, officials had not released a confirmed casualty figure, emphasizing that the priority remained locating everyone who had been aboard the ferry.