Hope was fading yesterday as search efforts continued without success to locate the two missing occupants of the MV Crissan–V, which sank off the Waini Coast in the North West District (NWD) last week.
Still missing are Julian Garraway, 26, of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara and the captain and owner of the vessel, John Vansluytman.
Relatives of Garraway, a father of a young baby, had been combing the Waini Coastline for a sighting of him and Vansluytman but their efforts continued in vain yesterday. Undaunted, his family remains adamant that he will be found. The family along with the coastguard has been scouring the seas outside the Iron Punt area along the Waini coastline for the men. Garraway’s sister noted yesterday that her siblings will continue their efforts today, while the coastguard is setting up a base in the Pomeroon.
Over the weekend, Egbert Jack Jr, 24, and Deochand Massidas, 17, were rescued by search parties in the Waini area. They were tied together by their life rings and were eventually found after they separated while on the high seas.
The MV Crissan-V sank around 10 pm last Wednesday night while pulling a barge laden with mining equipment, including an excavator and two dredges, to the community of Port Kaituma in the North West District (NWD). The vessel’s pumps had malfunctioned and it later slammed into the side of the barge while the nine men on board attempted to move another pump onto the vessel from the pontoon.
Five persons survived the incident initially and the authorities later expressed concern that the incident was only reported some 16 hours later. However, on Monday, relatives of Garraway stated that the Parika Police Station received a report from the owners of the cargo around midnight last Wednesday.
Transport Minister Robeson subsequently noted that the most recent incident will result in a review of the protocols governing the operation of all sea and coastal vessels while concerns were also raised about the teenage crew working on the high seas at a “force-ripe” age.
