…vessel apprehended, crew in police custody
QUICK response by the police at Charity, Essequibo, the Coast Guard and other agencies resulted in the apprehension of a vessel that reportedly attacked a fishing vessel on Sunday morning off the Pomeroon River. Reports are that at approximately 09:30hrs yesterday, the Maritime Authority received information that a vessel was under pursuit off the Pomeroon River and was run aground by the pursuing vessel, both owned by a resident of the Essequibo Coast.
The Maritime Authority immediately contacted the police, activated the search and rescue team for the two boats, and was successful.
Briefing the media on yesterday at the Rescue Centre at Stabroek, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, stated, “It turned out that this vessel, Sapna, was run aground by its crew since it wasn’t able to out-run the pursuing vessel; its crew got to shore and the vessel which was pursuing them also came ashore beside the abandoned vessel and removed material and fish and other items.”
The maritime authorities contacted the police station and the owner also was contacted and they went out to the crew. So far, they have been able to recover both vessels.
The Divisional Commander, the Army and Repsol, who is currently drilling for oil off the Berbice River, were alerted. Repsol subsequently provided a helicopter to assist in recovering the vessels, as was done in a previous piracy attack. Assistance was sought from both Repsol and CGX on previous occasions to deal with similar attacks. Minister Benn expressed gratitude for the assistance from time to time.
Benn urged fisher folk to be vigilant and to maintain contact with the relevant authorities whenever they feel threatened in any situation.
He reiterated that the administration is prioritising the safety of fisher folk and is working assiduously to put the necessary arrangements in place to protect them.
Meanwhile, Director or Maritime Safety, Stephen Thomas, said that the latest report states that crew members of both vessels involved in attack are at currently at the Charity Police Station, assisting with investigations.
According to him, from the statements given so far, it is understood that the  crew of vessel which was under attack fled after being pursued, and headed ashore, where they were subsequently picked up by the owner of the vessel, Sapna.
He said the crew members who were being chased were able to identify the vessel that was pursuing them and its crew.
He reminded that fisher folk must keep in contact with the light house and the Maritime Authority when they meet a situation which seems to be a threatening one.