Latest update September 28th, 2026 10:20 AM
Passengers stranded for hours as ferry runs aground at Wakenaam
…captain lost control, steering problems suggested
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how one of the new Chinese
Authorities said no one was injured but it is unlikely the ferry will be removed before the weekend.
ferries plying the Parika/Supenaam route, ran aground into the bushes off Wakenaam Island, Essequibo River, early yesterday night.
While there are no injuries, the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) reported yesterday that the MV SABANTO is unlikely to be removed before the weekend.
“The mishap reportedly occurred at around 00:35hrs as the vessel was en-route to Supenaam with passengers and crew. No injuries were reported.”
Passengers were forced to stay onboard until dawn when water taxis, responding to the vessel’s distress, collected the passengers.
Arrangements are now being made to take off the three trucks and seven cars that are on board via a barge.
“Assessments by mariners, marine surveyors and engineers are currently underway to initially determine damage to the vessel and the best method of safely taking it off,” the Department said yesterday in a statement.
“Favourable tides which will help a refloating operation by means of tugs are anticipated at the upcoming week-end.”
The incident is unlikely to affect river traffic in the Essequibo River with the sister ferry, MV KANAWAN, and the recently refurbished MV MALALI, to take up the slack.
T&HD did not indicate what led to the grounding of the vessel, but some angry passengers said they will be seeking compensation for losses.
Harbour officials believed that rains and poor visibility were to be blamed for the midnight incident.
One official said that the Captain lost control of the ferry as a result.
Meanwhile, a monitor at Parika said from initial reports, the problem is “mechanical in nature” and could be from a steering problem.
Reports indicated that around 120 passengers were on the vessel which left Parika around 23:45 hrs Sunday. The vessel was about two miles into its journey when the mishap occurred.
Caught on the vessel was an ambulance assigned to the Suddie Public Hospital. It had earlier taken a heart patient to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The ferries provide a critical link between the city and Essequibo Coast, for goods, farm produce and passengers.
MV SABANTO and MV KANAWAN were gifts handed over by the Government of China to Guyana back in January 2012. They were placed on the Essequibo River, bringing relief to aging fleet of ferries that had been plying the Parika/Supenaam, some of them for decades.
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