Captain Stephen Thomas

Maritime Administration Department

*Analysis of Marine Accidents in Guyana

Introduction

The Maritime Administration Department was specifically established to administer and regulate all matters pertaining to shipping, including the investigation of marine casualties. The investigation into marine casualties is done systemically through the use of legislative and administrative tools which are available to investigators.

The objective of a Marine Safety Investigation is primarily to prevent marine casualties and marine incidents from occurring in the future.

Obligations to investigate Marine Accidents

• Article 94 (7) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982;

• Article 23 of the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966

• Regulation I/21 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974

• Section 427 of the Guyana Shipping Act, 1998

What is a Marine Accident

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) refers to a marine accident as means an event, or a sequence of events, that has resulted in any of the following which has occurred directly in connection with the operations of a ship:

• the loss, presumed loss or abandonment of a ship;

• the death of, or serious injury to, a person;

• the loss of a person from a ship;

• material damage to a ship;

• the stranding or disabling of a ship, or the involvement of a ship in a collision;

What is a Marine Accident cont’d

A marine accident does not include a deliberate act or omission, with the intention to cause harm to the safety of a ship, an individual or the environment.

• material damage to marine infrastructure external to a ship, that could seriously endanger the safety of the ship, another ship or an individual;

• Severe damage to the environment, or the potential for severe damage to the environment, brought about by the damage of a ship or ships.

Types of Marine Accidents

• Engine Failure

Grounding

Hull Failure

Shipboard Accident

Fire and Explosion

Contact with submerged object

Flooding and foundering

Capsizing

Collision

Allision

Types of Marine Accidents cont’d

• Missing

• Falling Overboard

• Others

Marine Accidents 2010-2014

Fire

and

/or E

xplo

sion

Conta

ct w

ith su

bmer

ged

obje

ct

Alliso

n

Collis

ion

Capsizin

g

Flood

ing/

Foun

derin

g

Hull F

ailu

re

Missin

g

Falli

ng O

verb

oard

Ship

boar

d Acc

iden

t

Groun

ding

Other

s0

2

4

6

8

20102011201220132014

Fatalities from Accidents 2010 to 2014

Fire

and

/or E

xplo

sion

Conta

ct w

ith su

bmer

ged

obje

ct

Alliso

n

Collis

ion

Capsizin

g

Engi

ne Fa

ilure

Flood

ing/

Foun

derin

g

Hull F

ailu

re

Missin

g

Falli

ng O

verb

oard

Ship

boar

d Acc

iden

t

Groun

ding

Other

s0

4

8

12

16

20

20102011201220132014

Areas where accidents occurred

Demer

ara

River

Berbi

ce R

iver

Esse

quib

o Riv

er

Pom

eroo

n Riv

er

Mazar

uni R

iver

Cuyun

i Riv

er

At Sea

Other

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

20102011201220132014

Types of Vessels involved in Accidents

Tank

er

Gener

al C

argo

Ferry

Smal

l Pas

seng

er B

oat (

Wat

er T

axi)

Batea

u

Tug

&Barge

Traw

ler

Other

Fish

ing

Vesse

l

Other

s048

121620

20102011201220132014

Analysis of Accident Data

• Unsafe practices

• Uncertified captains

• Excessive speeding

• Uncertified vessels

• Poorly maintained vessels and equipment

• Lack of safety management systems

• Failure to observe collision regulations

• Operating at night without navigation lights

What has MARAD done

• Marine Safety Offices at major maritime centers

• Public Awareness Campaign

• Safety Signs

• Staff Training

• Enhanced safety features for boats

• Additional training for boat operators

• Enforcement patrols

Questions