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A DIRECTOR of B.C. Shipping told the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday, that the company is doing all within its protocol to have the matter involving the death on m.v. ‘Fairland’ resolved on a professional basis. 
Captain Krishna confirmed that it occurred on the morning of October 10 when the vessel was in the Demerara River near Supply, en route to Grove anchorage, also on East Bank Demerara.
The ship was scheduled to pass through the Demerara Harbour Bridge yesterday afternoon but he received a call from the captain indicating that there was an accident on the deck and Vibert Ferdinand, the Chief Mate had died.
Krishna said he then informed the police who were taken to Fairland by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard where they found Ferdinand on the deck and immediately commenced investigations.
The man’s body was conveyed to a hospital and statements were taken from the crew when investigations by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) also commenced.
It was previously reported that, after the tide in the river had changed at about 23:45 hrs, the boatswain inspected the deck and sought approval from the captain to move the excavator forward to commence movement on the stern, in order to have the ship shifted from its grounded position.
Permission was granted and the moving had begun when, in the process, one of the hydraulic hoses burst and the boom of the excavator fell, breaking a piece of wood on the deck which swept Ferdinand off his feet and he hit his head.
The captain said he heard shouts, by crew members, from the deck stating that Ferdinand had died.
The company said, yesterday, that all protocols were observed and the dead man’s family in Essequibo had been contacted and they are awaiting the results of the post mortem, which would determine the direction of any other action by the company on the matter.
Captain Krishna confirmed that it occurred on the morning of October 10 when the vessel was in the Demerara River near Supply, en route to Grove anchorage, also on East Bank Demerara. The ship was scheduled to pass through the Demerara Harbour Bridge yesterday afternoon but he received a call from the captain indicating that there was an accident on the deck and Vibert Ferdinand, the Chief Mate had died.
Krishna said he then informed the police who were taken to Fairland by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard where they found Ferdinand on the deck and immediately commenced investigations.
The man’s body was conveyed to a hospital and statements were taken from the crew when investigations by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) also commenced.
It was previously reported that, after the tide in the river had changed at about 23:45 hrs, the boatswain inspected the deck and sought approval from the captain to move the excavator forward to commence movement on the stern, in order to have the ship shifted from its grounded position.
Permission was granted and the moving had begun when, in the process, one of the hydraulic hoses burst and the boom of the excavator fell, breaking a piece of wood on the deck which swept Ferdinand off his feet and he hit his head.
The captain said he heard shouts, by crew members, from the deck stating that Ferdinand had died.
The company said, yesterday, that all protocols were observed and the dead man’s family in Essequibo had been contacted and they are awaiting the results of the post mortem, which would determine the direction of any other action by the company on the matter.
