—EOIs open as authorities prepare for next phase of recovery operation

THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, has invited qualified marine salvage contractors to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the recovery of the wrecked passenger and cargo ferry MV Barima, more than two weeks after the vessel sank off the Essequibo Coast in one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the country’s history.
The announcement comes as search and recovery efforts continue at the wreck site, where local teams have been conducting underwater operations in difficult conditions.
The MV Barima sank on the night of July 18 while en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma with an estimated 179 passengers and 17 crew members on board. The vessel capsized in rough seas off the Essequibo coast, triggering the largest maritime search and recovery operation in Guyana’s history.
As of the latest official update, 73 deaths have so far been recorded while 76 people were rescued, while search and recovery operations remain ongoing for those still missing.
The government has deployed aircraft, maritime vessels, specialist divers and emergency response teams in a coordinated effort to recover the remaining victims.
French military divers had reported zero visibility, powerful currents and the maze of ropes and hammocks inside the sunken MV Barima
According to the notice, the MV Barima remains submerged in approximately 15 metres (49 feet) of water, about 28 nautical miles north of Guyana’s coast, at Latitude 07°28’213 North and Longitude 058°23’443 West. Authorities said visibility at the wreck site is poor, while strong currents and tidal streams pose significant operational challenges.
The vessel, measuring approximately 38.6 metres in length with an 8.9-metre beam and 2.9-metre depth, is lying on its side in soft mud.
MARAD is seeking reputable salvage companies with proven experience conducting successful vessel salvage operations in Guyanese or wider Caribbean waters, particularly in environments characterised by strong currents and restricted visibility.
Interested companies are required to submit detailed proposals outlining their corporate profile, relevant salvage experience over the past five to ten years, technical approach to the operation, environmental protection measures, key personnel and equipment, project timeline, and insurance and safety arrangements.
Importantly, contractors must also explain how evidence will be protected and documented during the salvage process to support the work of the international Commission of Inquiry into the disaster.
The successful contractor must also demonstrate the capability to stow the salvaged vessel upright on a barge for several weeks following recovery.
Expressions of Interest, limited to ten pages excluding appendices, must be submitted electronically to MARAD no later than the close of business on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Following the evaluation process, shortlisted firms will be invited to submit detailed technical and financial proposals before a contractor is selected.
Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali has appointed a five-member international Commission of Inquiry to investigate every aspect of the disaster, including the vessel’s seaworthiness, loading procedures, passenger manifest, emergency response, search and rescue operations, and any acts of negligence or institutional failures that might have contributed to the tragedy.
The commission is chaired by Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an Ad Hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.
The other members are Captain Hamada Fouda of Jamaica, Senior Maritime Surveyor and Compliance Auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Ms. Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, an attorney-at-law specialising in Admiralty and Maritime Law; Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer; and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, an expert in maritime operations and security.
President Ali, on Friday, announced formation of a Safety and Compliance Audit Team tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the safety and compliance standards governing marine vessels operating across the country in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Audit Team comprises: Dr Ivor English, former Director-General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD); Colonel Julius Skeete of the Guyana Defence Force and Captain Joseph Lewis, Marine Officer and Surveyor of Ships.
Together, the three men bring what the President’s statement describes as a wealth of technical expertise, practical experience and knowledge in marine administration, maritime operations, and the inspection and surveying of ships