Guyana’s search for mystery boat with decomposing bodies suspended

Feb 20, 2021 News

The area searched by the Guyanese authorities for the mystery boat with decomposing bodies.

Kaieteur News – Kaieteur News has been reliably informed that Guyana has suspended its search for a mystery boat reportedly seen drifting off shore on Monday, with what appeared to be decomposing bodies.
This decision, Kaieteur News learnt, was taken after coast guards returned to Port Georgetown on Thursday empty handed.
Those coast guards had departed at around 17:00 hrs. Tuesday on a privately owned fishing trawler, heading to an area where it was believed that the boat might have drifted after its last sighting around 19:53 hrs. on Monday.
They reportedly arrived at that location early Wednesday and searched all day. Their efforts were also backed up by a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) air search, but there was still no further sighting of the drifting vessel.
Nevertheless, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has since alerted its international counterparts to be on the lookout for the mystery boat.
According a recent press release sent out, MARAD stated that it “has published a Navigational Warning via the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) informing all vessels in the general area to be on the lookout for a vessel adrift and to report any sighting.”
MARAD stated to that it has also informed Trinidad and Tobago to notify its vessels about the boat, since the direction of the ocean current could take it there. The Department said that emails were also sent to its equivalent organizations seeking assistance in identifying the boat, its origin, the remains onboard, and where it might have been coming from.
Based on photo evidence received by the Guyanese authorities, the boat is about 25 feet long and fairly deep. No engine was seen on its stern, but there was a noticeable tow line attached to its bow.
According to a technical team at MARAD, it is believed that boat could originate from as far as Africa.
The mystery boat was first spotted at around 14:04 hrs. by a motor tug contracted by US Oil Company, ExxonMobil, drifting at approximately 112 nautical miles off shore Guyana.
Crew members on board the tug had taken photos and sent them to the relevant authorities (MARAD).
During a recent press conference held at the Maritime Boat House, Minister Public Works, Juan Edghill, noted that a request was made for the tug to attach a tow line to the vessel and bring to a sea buoy located some 10 miles from Georgetown.
However, the crew members had said that they needed permission to do so from its principals, which they eventually obtained around 15:03 hrs.
Edghill had said that the crew members later that night reported that they were unable to attach the tow line because the weather at sea became inclement.
John Flores, Director of Safety at MARAD, had moved to point out that there is a possibility that the boat could have sunk due to the inclement weather or even drift in another direction because of strong wind.

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