Demerara Harbour Bridge employee dies after tug capsizes

Jun 01, 2014 News

Seepersaud Roopchand, aka “Rukuja”, 57, died by unknown circumstances when the tug boat which he was on capsized and hurled him over board to his demise. Roopchand was a tug boat operator attached to the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Dead: Seepersaud Roopchand

The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) Corporation hosted a press conference in the wake of the accident. General Manager of the DHB, Rawlston Adams, along with Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn used the forum to brief the media on what they knew of Roopchand’s death.
Adams said that the 57-year-old father of one fell overboard about noon, yesterday. His body was retrieved some 300 meters downstream of the bridge. CPR was immediately administered by fellow workers but their efforts were unsuccessful. He was taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Adams said.
According to Adams, Roopchand was on duty from 06:00 hours to facilitate a bridge inspection. However, he was advised around 08:00 hours that the inspection was no longer needed. He was then instructed to moor the vessel at Span 8 – the normal docking position.
“The last time I saw him about 8:20 this morning, the tug was not in operation during the incident so it is for us to determine what actually transpired and how the tug got to its present position.
“The tug was equipped with a life ring and he was the only person on the vessel at the time of the incident,” said Adams.
He said that at approximately 11:40 hours, a DHB Engineer observed that the tug “Rickford L” had capsized and that Mr. Roopchand was being swept downstream. The DHB’s maintenance boat, which is equipped with safety equipment, was immediately mobilized for the rescue of the West Bank Demerara resident.
The DHB has mounted an internal investigation into the matter. The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Police were notified of the incident and are conducting independent investigations.
According to Minister Benn their investigation would have to “determine if anything was unsafely done and how we could prevent any repeat.” He added that the investigation will determine whether Roopchand who is supposed to be outfitted with a lifejacket was without one and without the life ring in the tug.”

The tug boat being pulled out of the water.

When asked about compensation for Roopchand from the DHB Adams said,
“It is preliminary to discuss compensation when we don’t understand the nature of the incident.”
Mr. Roopchand was a licensed boat operator with DHB since July 25, 2013. He was an experienced captain. Mr. Roopchand’s wife and his next of kin were notified of the incident.
The dead man’s brother said that Roopchand was a tug Captain working in Cayenne. He had over 22 years of experience in the field and because of his experience he was taken on by the DHB to work.
Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn and the General Manager (GM) Rawlston Adams expressed their deepest regrets at the incident.