President Dr. Irfaan Ali says authorities have intensified recovery efforts at the MV Barima wreck site, with a complex technical operation now underway to reposition and eventually lift the vessel to accelerate the search and recovery mission.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, the President said the government’s immediate priority remains rescue and recovery, with the search area expanded both on the water and along the shoreline.
“We also have troops on the ground walking the coastline and shoreline based on technical analysis as to how the tide is moving and also in consultation with fisherfolk and other river users who have a lot of knowledge of the river,” he explained.
President Ali said the latest phase of the operation follows challenges encountered by French divers who, alongside members of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, attempted to enter the submerged vessel on Tuesday.
“The objective today is to put the vessel in a position that it is safer for the divers to get into the vessel and to make maximum recovery. The second aspect of the operation is to move the vessel to shallow waters… and then it’s to try to lift the vessel,” he said.
He said this is a highly technical operation involving specialised equipment, tugboats and large floating airbags capable of generating approximately 1,500 tonnes of lifting capacity.
The airbags are expected to be attached to the vessel before being inflated in an effort to raise it from the riverbed.
The recovery effort has drawn support from several international partners. President Ali said French divers remain on the ground, while Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and other CARICOM member states have all offered assistance. A Brazilian vessel is also positioned offshore in support of the operation.
The President also said authorities continue to provide updates and support to affected families. While no new bodies had been recovered on Wednesday morning, additional victims recovered on Tuesday evening were identified overnight.
He noted that a coordinated logistics operation remains in place to assist families with the identification and transportation of victims, while a dedicated call centre in Georgetown continues to provide information and support.