Guyana confirms 72 deaths in MV Barima ferry sinking

Guyanese authorities have confirmed that at least 72 people died after the state-owned ferry MV Barima capsized off the country’s Essequibo coast, as search and recovery operations continued on July 24, 2026.

The government believes as many as 179 people were aboard the vessel. Officials said 76 people were rescued, while the final number of people missing remained uncertain because the passenger manifest did not account for everyone believed to have travelled.

The 87-year-old ferry left Georgetown on Saturday, July 18, bound for Port Kaituma before taking on water and overturning in Atlantic waters. The government has estimated that the eventual death toll could reach 100.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips said crews had expanded the search area and would continue efforts to recover those still missing. Divers from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago were among personnel working to salvage the partly submerged vessel so investigators could inspect it for evidence about the cause of the disaster.

Police have opened a criminal investigation and detained three people: the rescued captain, a crew member and the marine superintendent responsible for overseeing the ferry’s loading. Authorities said the crew member tested positive for marijuana. The government says the ferry was below its permitted capacity, but some survivors have alleged that it was overloaded.

The official manifest listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members, substantially fewer than the government’s current estimate of the number aboard. Survivors have also questioned the speed of the rescue response, with some reporting that they spent hours in the water.

The government said the MV Barima was last dry-docked for major repairs in 2024 and was due for further work in October 2026. A newer vessel intended to replace it had already been acquired from India, but officials said a new pier at Port Kaituma was not yet ready to receive it.

The findings of the police investigation are expected to be examined by a commission of inquiry, which had not yet been established as of July 24.