The tug and barge that crashed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) on Monday was not anchored in a correct position, the investigation by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has found.
Director of Safety at MARAD Captain John Flores yesterday told Stabroek News that the crew members have admitted that the Panamanian-registered tug was not anchored in the correct position. He said that the investigation found that the anchor broke as a result of the strong current in the river and this resulted in the vessels drifting and subsequently crashing into the bridge. If the vessel had been positioned correctly, the mishap could have been avoided, Flores said.
The crew members made several attempts to stop the vessels from drifting but their efforts were in vain, he said. Stabroek News had previously reported that at around 12.50 on Monday morning, the tug and barge crashed into the DHB, resulting in extensive damage. The tug, a Panamanian vessel, drifted from Grove/Diamond on the East Bank Demerara and its crew belatedly issued a distress call.
