THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has reported a 46 percent reduction in fatalities from accidents on the waterways last year, as compared to figures for 2013.Director General of the Maritime Administration, Ms. Claudette Rogers, recently reported that 23 deaths arising from boat accidents, incidents and acts of piracy occurred in 2014; while, for 2013, there was a total of forty-three deaths occurring due to similar causes.

She described 2014 as a year of marked improvement over 2013. Last year, 20 people lost their lives due to boat accidents, 17 being due to incidents and 6 to piracy.
She disclosed that preliminary results from investigations into boat accidents have found that most were caused by unlicensed boats and unlicensed operators.

MARAD will consequently be tightening up on requirements for both operators and vessels. She said that from January 1 this year, as part of the registration process, owners of boats are being required to submit photographs of their vessels, both for security reasons and for enhancing safety; and with effect from January 1 also, all vessels operating in Guyana are being required to be outfitted with whistles or other sound-signalling appliances capable of producing a prescribed blast while they are in operation.

The vessels will also have to be fitted with navigational lights which must be exhibited from sunset to sunrise, and from sunrise to sunset in conditions of restricted visibility.

Meanwhile, in support of the river safety drive, during last year, MARAD distributed 1008 life jackets among operators in the ten administrative regions. MARAD also continued to sensitize school children and members of the public about the importance of wearing life jackets, and of the importance of boats using horns, whistles, and sound-signalling apparatus while operating on the waterways.