Govt. secretly invited Dutch firm to raise MV Barima long before issuing tender – well-placed sources

Aug 05, 2026 News

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By Davina Bagot

(Kaieteur News) – Amid the controversy surrounding the investigation into the circumstances of the capsizing and sinking of the MV Barima on 18^th July, a leaked proposal has exposed a highly questionable move by the Government of Guyana (GoG) to seek the services of a Dutch firm to lift the vessel, prior to issuing an official Request for Proposals (RFP) on Saturday.

Sources closely connected to the GoG told this newspaper that the administration quietly “invited” a Dutch firm, Koole Onshore and Koole Offshore (KMS), headquartered in the Netherlands to send a proposal to retrieve the sunken ferry. Kaieteur News understands that KMS established a base in Suriname where it can easily mobilise staff and resources to Guyana.

The proposal leaked to this publication is clearly dated 28^th July, 2026, days before government publicly opened a competitive bidding process. This raises questions as to whether the government has already selected a company to salvage the vessel and has merely launched a bidding process to satisfy the public and assure family members and victims of the dreaded incident of a “transparent process”.

In its executive summary, the Dutch firm reveals, “KMS has been invited by the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, through the Maritime Administration Department (“MARAD”), to submit a proposal for the righting and recovery of the passenger ferry MV BARIMA, which capsized and sank off the Essequibo coast on or about 18^th July, 2026.”

The company continues, “KMS is pleased to accept this invitation and offers a proven, safe and controlled solution. Given the loss of life and the ongoing official and legal investigation, our objective is to recover the vessel in one piece so that it is preserved for examination, rather than segmented. This proposal reflects that priority throughout.”

It boasted of its International Organisation for Standards (ISO) certification, informing government that its services would be provided at a cost of US$8M.

KMS recently completed multiple casualty-removal contracts for the Government of Guyana in the Demerara River as highlighted in its proposal.

The company has offered to recover the MV Barima within six to seven weeks with its timeline including one week for mobilisation; one week for surveying and diving purposes; three to four weeks to lift and secure the barge and one week to demobilise.

The 13-page document details the personnel required for the job, as well as a lengthy outline of all other equipment necessary such as tugs, fuel, hoses, generators and others to name a few.

More importantly, KMS shared its proposed methodology for recovering the vessel. It suggested a three-phased approach to the GoG which includes (1) survey and inspection, (2) controlled buoyancy-assisted righting (parbuckling) and (3) heavy-lift recovery, placement and transport.

It is not immediately clear whether other companies were selectively invited by the GoG to submit proposals to salvage the wreck prior to the official RFP.

The GoG on 2^nd August  issued a Request For Proposals to salvage the MV Barima, abandoning its previous plans to establish a memorial site to honour the lives of those who drowned when the ferry capsized and sank.

The vessel is currently sitting in soft mud, in water depths of about 13-15 meters (42-49 feet).

The RFP stated, “Visibility at the wreck site is poor and strong currents and tidal streams may be encountered at times, necessitating suitably robust procedures and equipment for sale operations.”

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation in its RFP stated that interested companies should submit the (1) corporate profile, including ownership, principal place of business and years of operation in marine salvage; (2) evidence of relevant experience over the last 5-10 years, including a track record of successful salvage operations in the region with a brief description of location, depth, vessel type and size, method used, and client references; (3) description of the proposed technical approach for the MV Barima salvage with emphasis on the measures to protect and document forensic evidence for use by the Commission of Inquiry and identify measures for protection of the environment.

Companies are also required to (4) outline key personnel and equipment to be deployed; (5) estimated timeline to commence and complete operations; (6) be able to stow the salvaged vessel upright on a barge for several weeks; confirm capacity to operate under “no cure, no pay” or other commercial agreements and finally submit statements regarding insurance coverage, health, safety and environmental management systems and compliance with Guyana’s maritime, procurement and occupational safety regulations.

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• capsizing, Koole Onshore and Koole Offshore, MV Barima, Sinking

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