Latest update January 12th, 2025 3:54 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Licencing of vessels in C’tyne remains a challenge – MARAD

Feb 07, 2014 News

About 90 percent of small boats operating in the Corentyne area are not licenced with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), due to the border situation which persists between Guyana and Suriname.
This assertion was made by Captain Stephen Thomas, Director of Maritime Safety, during the Ministry of Public Works’ 2013 performance press conference, last Friday.
He suggested that the boats are probably licenced or registered in neighbouring Suriname.
“That area doesn’t see much intervention from our department, mainly because of the maritime border situation there,” Thomas said.
However, for other areas where fishing is a major activity, MARAD has been trying to have fishing vessels licenced to ensure maritime safety. About 50 percent of fishing vessels operating are not licenced, but that percentage fluctuates whenever there are countrywide campaigns.
Captain Thomas explained that unless staffers engage in out-of-town activities or are consistently behind operators, many vessels would remain unlicenced.
According to Captain Thomas, MARAD and the Agriculture Ministry’s Fisheries Department are drafting a Memorandum of Understanding to make the licencing of fishing vessels compulsory.
“So if they aren’t licenced by us they wouldn’t be licenced to fish and things like that, all in the interest of promoting safety,” he said.
Providing other highlights of the department for 2013, Captain Thomas said personnel of the Ship Inspection Regime inspected over 500 vessels during the past year. He related that 350 personnel certificates were issued. “Most of them were for renewal and 150 were for new personnel,” he added.
According to Captain Thomas, there were 22 reported accidents and unfortunately there were 37 deaths and 10 injuries. He noted that MARAD’s foreign vessel inspection programme did not perform as planned. The department was only able to inspect four vessels. This falls below MARAD’s target of surveying 25 percent of the foreign vessels that come to Guyana.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Savory, Persaud show class ahead of Regional C/ships with fifties

Savory, Persaud show class ahead of Regional C/ships with fifties

Jan 12, 2025

Guyana Harpy Eagles 4-Day practice match… Kaieteur Sports – Captain Kemol Savory and Akshaya Persaud stroked identical half-centuries during the 2nd innings of the Savory XI versus...
Read More
Spectators experience and playing standards high on the agenda says Minister Ramson

Spectators experience and playing standards high...

Jan 12, 2025

Archery Guyana’s 2024 Senior Barebow Open Officially Declared Open

Archery Guyana’s 2024 Senior Barebow Open...

Jan 12, 2025

Body of Chinese national who fell from new Demerara River bridge recovered

Body of Chinese national who fell from new...

Jan 11, 2025

Athanaze posts 98 as Windies start positively in tour match against Pakistan Shaheens

Athanaze posts 98 as Windies start positively in...

Jan 11, 2025

Youngsters seize opportunity, rubbing shoulders with Golden Jags star Omar Glasgow

Youngsters seize opportunity, rubbing shoulders...

Jan 11, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]