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T&T team brought in to salvage overturned cargo vessel
…still no sign of missing cook
By Zena Henry
Almost a week after the boat accident that left one seaman missing, reportedly trapped in a capsized cargo vessel midway in the Demerara River, measures are still being put in place to salvage the toppled vessel and recover the absent cook.
This is according to boat owner, Fijai Sankar. The East Bank Essequibo
Coast guard boarding Miss Ellisa after the mishap
resident said that earlier this week a team from Trinidad and Tobago was brought in to estimate the cost of salvaging the capsized boat. He added that the team is contemplating the manner in which they could pull up the boat. Sankar said that a report from the Trinidadian team is expected tomorrow.
To date, the Miss Ellisa remains a sunken wreck west of the Demerara ships channel within the Port Georgetown Harbour.
Trader goods valued at millions of dollars were aboard the capsized boat but Sankar said that it would be useless to try to salvage the goods. “The goods are spoilt; it makes no sense thinking about that.”
Sankar said that previous discussions with Public Works Minister Robeson Benn revealed that discussions would be held with cabinet members about upturning the boat. The man said that the Minister had assured him that he would speak with the members in relation to helping him pull up the vessel and transporting it out of the way of water traffic.
Sankar also said that searches are still ongoing for the missing cook. The boat owner told Kaieteur News that on Wednesday persons were again looking for 67-year-old Gerald Fraser. Divers were deployed while searches were conducted above water along the wharf, in an effort to retrieve the cook’s floating body if that was the case.
Sankar was however unable to say how soon the boat could be righted and towed to the wharf.
Commenting on the cook’s family, Sankar said that he personally made contact with the cook’s wife and ensured her that much is being done to find Fraser. He further said that he assured the family that he will bear all funeral cost if necessary and some compensation will be provided to assist the family.
Fraser’s family is challenging the explanation provided for the cook being trapped in the vessel. The relatives however said that they are concerned about the man’s body not yet being recovered.
One woman who identified herself as the missing cook’s niece said that “now is not the time to talk about money.” The woman said that one cannot speak about funeral if the body cannot be found. She also said that the family’s main concern is getting Fraser’s body to bring some closure to the family.
The woman continued that her uncle is one of triplets. She said her mother and her uncle were very close, being the only two surviving siblings.
Miss Ellisa made that fateful plunge some time after 17:00 hours on Friday last. The boat capsized while trying to return to Muneshwer’s wharf from which it departed shortly before.
Captain, St. Vincent national Justin Bino told reporters that he realized as soon as he departed the wharf that the ship started to lean and was taking in water. He said that he decided that he was no longer going out to sea and was lining up to go back to the wharf to adjust the cargo but during the turn, the boat leaned on its starboard side and capsized within minutes.
The men quickly abandoned ship and six of the crew members were saved by water taxi operators who raced to the sailors’ aid.
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