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