THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has now shifted its ‘Operation Safety’ to the ports at Supenaam, Adventure and Charity on the Essequibo Coast, where cadets will continue their outreach, targeting the operators of vessels and passengers. The aim is to enforce the regulations by monitoring the licensing, among other requirements, in a campaign that started in the wake of recent collisions in the Pomeroon and Mazaruni Rivers that claimed the lives of 19 persons.
The exercise, which started last week at Parika, East Bank Essequibo; Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara and Georgetown, saw some 30 defaulters reported for not adhering to the maritime regulations.
Outreaches are some of the recommendations which MARAD will be continuing to implement to meet the needs for licensing of boats and operators in remote areas.
Ongoing visual information will be distributed at ports along the various routes and associations and organisations are to assist in the efforts to maintain safer waterways.
Meanwhile, investigations involving the Police, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and MARAD, are continuing into the collisions in the Pomeroon and Mazaruni Rivers.