Salvaging of MV Barima could commence this month – Commission – News Room Guyana

Plans to salvage the sunken MV Barima are nearing finalisation, with a salvage operation possibly set to begin this month, according to members of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) established following the vessel’s sinking.

Speaking during the Commission’s first public engagement since being sworn in, Chairman Godfrey Smith said the process of raising the vessel is already being examined.

“Our understanding is that the process of raising the vessel is in process, meaning it is being examined and looked at,” Smith said, adding that one of the Commission’s members had participated in a related process the previous day.

Commissioner Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski provided further details, saying he had already met with a potential salvage team to discuss both the removal of the wreck and the preservation of evidence.

“I have met with a potential salvage team. We discussed the process of salvaging and the process of evidence preservation,” Dr Jasionowski said.

He said negotiations surrounding the salvage operation were still ongoing but suggested that an agreement could be reached within days.

“I understand that the negotiations of that undertaken is still ongoing, but I was made to understand that in a matter of days this will be completed and that the salvage operation will commence possibly in this month,” he said.

Dr Jasionowski added that the Commission would be kept informed of developments and could potentially observe the salvage operation.

“We will be informed of the progress and of the steps… possibly we will also witness the operations,” he said, stressing that “it is very close to finalising the plans.”

The MV Barima has remained underwater since it sank on July 18, 2026, during the tragedy involving the passenger and cargo vessel, which operated between Georgetown and Port Kaituma.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 73 people. Another 30 people remain unaccounted for, while 76 passengers survived.

The latest comments come as the government advances the procurement process for a contractor to remove the wreck from the waters off the Essequibo Coast.

Three companies submitted bids for the salvage contract.  The bidders are Guyanese companies Industrial Fabrication Inc. and B.K. International Inc., and KMS B.V., a Netherlands-based marine salvage company.

The tender was issued by the Maritime Administration Department for the salvage of the MV Barima on a “no cure, no pay” basis.

Industrial Fabrication submitted a bid of G$1.895 billion, with a G$28.5 million bid security through Premier. B.K. International submitted the lowest bid at G$1.034 billion, backed by a G$15.6 million bid security through Nafico.

KMS B.V. submitted a bid of G$2.0351 billion, with bid security of US$136,691 through KBC Bank.

For the Commission, the eventual salvage of the vessel is expected to be significant not only for removing the wreck, but also for the preservation and examination of evidence surrounding the tragedy.

The COI will commence public hearing on Wednesday, October 14.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE