“It’s very difficult to navigate through the wreck” – French divers tell families of persons still missing after MV Barima tragedy

As the search and recovery operation continued offshore, where MV Barima sank after capsizing with 179 people onboard last weekend, the French divers who have been supporting local efforts say the harsh conditions in the Atlantic are making it difficult to navigate the wreck.

Since they arrived in Guyana on Monday, the team from the French Guiana Army has executed approximately 15 diving operations to the sunken vessel, which is lying on its side on the seabed about nine miles off the Essequibo Coast. The ferry was located two days after capsizing by local fishermen and later confirmed by authorities.

So far, 76 persons have been rescued, and 73 bodies recovered, while 30 persons are still unaccounted for.

Updating anxious family members, who have gathered at Charity on the Essequibo Coast since last week to await news of their missing loved ones, the French divers explained that the weather and the environmental conditions are making it dangerous for them to get into the sunken ferry.

“There are very, very hard environmental conditions, especially because of the tide and the currents. On the wreck, it’s totally dark, so it’s very difficult for us to navigate through the wreck. We have to feel the wreck, and it’s like we are blind. So it’s too dangerous for us to enter into the wreck. And because of the many ropes and the hammocks, it’s very difficult to see where we are going,” one of the divers explained. 

Since last week, the technical teams, both local and foreign, have been trying to reposition the vessel. The aim is to get the ferry into a floating position in order to bring it closer to shore so that the divers can safely get inside with the hopes of recovering those missing persons.

This publication understands that the divers had successfully attached the cables and ropes to the sunken ferry; however, persons closely involved in the recovery operation explained that when they tried to pull the vessel, the cables and ropes kept bursting.

Despite the rough Atlantic conditions and some divers even becoming sick, the teams are still continuing their efforts to both move the vessel as well as enter the wreckage.

“So, there was a rope on the wreck. We just followed the rope, arrived on the wreck, and tried to navigate by searching the characteristics of the wreck. So, we were able to follow the lines of the wreck and try to feel if there was a door or window or hammocks or whatever. [But] it’s quite in the mud. It’s totally dark, so it’s very, very difficult to search for something,” the French diver explained. 

Only a few days ago, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who had been on the ground in Charity all last week, informed families that if efforts to right the sunken vessel into a floating position failed, then a decision would have to be made on salvaging the wreck. This, he pointed out, however, is a last resort.

“The other option, which we don’t want to get to and we’re trying to avoid as far as possible – and that would have to be discussed with family members – is to try for a full salvage of the vessel. That has the challenge of disrupting whatever is there. But we’re hopeful that we don’t get to that [stage]. If we get to that, all of us together will have to make a decision as to the best option [forward],” the Guyanese leader indicated to relatives.

However, during the recent briefing, the families enquired from the French divers about the possibility of salvaging the ship.

In response, the lead diver related that, “It’s very, very hard to do such a thing… I think it’s very difficult because the wreck is not very strong, so it’s difficult to take it.”