THE Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) has fired the Captain under whose watch Essequibo Ferry, the MV Sabanto ran aground at Wakenaam Island Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) at midnight on Monday, November 17, 2014 last.

The T&HD has also imposed a one-month suspension without pay on the helmsman and all the lookouts who had been on duty at the time of the mishap.

General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Marclene Merchant, on Monday disclosed particulars of the disciplinary action taken against the crew members who had been found guilty of negligence following an inquiry into the incident on the Essequibo River, which had taken place during the vessel’s run from Parika to Supenaam.

Reports at the time had suggested that mechanical problems developed by the MV Sabanto had caused its steering wheel to become inoperable and had resulting in the vessel veering off course and running aground. However, last Friday, the media was told that there had been restricted visibility during the night when the MV Sabanto was en route to Supenaam Stelling, and that had reportedly caused the Captain and lookouts on the ferry to lose all sense of the vessel’s direction and position. It was determined that the Captain should have stopped the vessel, drop anchor, and wait for the weather to improve; but he continued to travel the vessel at an unsafe speed, given the prevailing conditions.

In the next few fateful minutes, the Captain then gave the wrong helm order, thereby causing the vessel to run hard aground onto the south-western side of the Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo River. That is the reason why disciplinary action has been taken against the Captain and the look outs on duty.

All passengers and crew members eventually disembarked the grounded vessel and joined water taxis to complete their journey, there were no reported injuries as a result of the mishap.

During the vessel’s downtime, the MV Kanawan and MV Malali doubled up on their runs to maintain traffic movement at normal levels.
Favourable tides eventually aided the refloating of the vessel.