Trawlers in breach of safety codes will have licences revoked

Dec 13, 2010 News

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– Agri Minister

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud says that the recent report on the findings into the trawler explosion has to be seriously analyzed to see if anyone would be held culpable.
The Minister in a brief telephone interview yesterday said that he was very saddened by the entire incident.
He explained that he cannot say offhand if anyone would be held accountable, adding that the report is being studied by the Agriculture’s Fisheries Department. One thing the Minister was adamant about is that any trawlers found breaching the Ministry’s codes will not have their licenses renewed.
“Trawler owners must not look at money…. they must fight to ensure safety,” he said.
Meanwhile an official from Prittipaul Investment Inc yesterday told Kaieteur News that the company was still going through the report.
The official said that it was highly unlikely that the company would meet with the relatives today to talk about compensation.
On Wednesday evening, the Board of Inquiry which was ordered to do an investigation into the explosion found that the fire was caused by a faulty alternator which was exposed to a sparking wire. The report stated that had the alternator been carefully checked, serviced, repaired or replaced with a proper functioning one, this casualty might not have occurred.
The report further slammed the seafood company for poor safety practices, noting that the vessel only had one small lifeboat without paddles or oars, and there was no bailer.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department in a press release on Thursday said that they were very concerned over the findings of the preliminary report. The release further stated that the findings would be its main topic at the next meeting with the Fisheries Advisory Committee, with a view to ensuring that the recommendations made by the report will be adhered across the board by all fishing vessels, especially trawlers.
The Ministry further urged the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors should take the necessary measures to ensure that all its members comply with the rules and regulations.
It also expected that all Occupational Safety and Health systems are in place and that the crew members of vessels are able to work in a safe environment.
Furthermore, the release said that the ministry’s Fisheries Department will be collaborating with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to ensure that all vessels will have the necessary requirements in place and that the crew members are capable of operating sea vessels.
The continued licenses of trawlers will be linked to the recommendations and the most stringent examination of vessels and related requirements will be done to ensure that such irregularities and deficiencies are rectified before licenses are issued.
In a detailed report it was explained that the vessel, Captain Lloyd 97, was owned and operated by Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc., and had been taken on a test run on June 18, last, which lasted about 45 minutes.
Conducting the test was a mechanic, Ray Griffith, who was not certified to do so.
According to the report, while at sea it was Elvis Todd, who was also injured in the fire, who said that Orlon Munroe was the person who observed that the alternator had an exposed wire. Munroe, in turn, reported it to the captain. The report states that it was Munroe who attended to the problem.
It was recommended in the report that the company should urgently seek to develop a Quality Management System and it is imperative that the author of this management system be qualified and experienced consultant with relevant nautical knowledge and competence.
Further, the report recommended that a company occupational health and safety manual which must include health and safety on board vessels.
The report recommended that the owner of the vessel must seek to appoint persons who have the relevant skills and qualifications.
Another recommendation was that job descriptions for each position within the Company is compiled, documented and should form part of the Quality Management System.
The changing of the format of the Captain’s Report/ Work Sheet was suggested.
A column is also needed to record exactly what action is taken when defects are reported. It must be mandatory for the relevant signatures to be affixed to this document.
In terms of safety the company must ensure that all emergency and safety equipment on shore and aboard the ship are acquired and maintained and in a serviceable state.
Emergency drills are expected to be carried out periodically ashore and onboard ships.
When recruiting workers the company must ensure its contracts qualified captains and that these captains employ experienced crew members, or at least persons who have attended the basic training course.
Further it was suggested that the company should have a mechanic onboard, not necessarily as a crewmember, but as a utility man.

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