Recommendations made by the team which investigated the June 19th explosion on board the Pritipaul Singh Investments (PSI)-owned Captain Lloyd 97 fishing vessel will be implemented to ensure that they are adhered to by all fishing vessels, especially trawlers.
The Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday said the continued licensing of trawlers will be linked to the recommendations and the most stringent examination of vessels and related requirements will be done to ensure that such irregularities and deficiencies are rectified before licences are issued. It expressed deep concern about the findings of the investigating team, noting in a release that the report has been referred to the Fisheries Advisory Committee and it will be discussed at the body’s next meeting with the view of ensuring that the recommendations are implemented across the board.
According to the release, the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors were implored to take the necessary measures to ensure that all its members comply with the rules and regulations, which would see that all Occupational Safety and Health Systems are in place and that crew members of vessels are able to work in a safe environment. The Fisheries Department will be collaborating with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to ensure that all vessels will have all necessary requirements in place and that the crew members are capable of operating sea vessels. The deficiencies of land operations that regulate the vessels were also noted and the Fisheries Department ex-pressed hope that they will also be resolved as soon as possible.
The report, which was convened after Transport Minister Robeson Benn ordered a preliminary inquiry of the incident, stated that several safety regulations were breached. Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir when contacted for a comment on the report yesterday told Stabroek News that he had not seen it.
Meanwhile, Brentnol Gibbs, the Occupational Health and Safety Officer of PSI told Stabroek News yesterday that the company could not pronounce on the report, since PSI only received it yesterday. He said that the company will review the report over the next few days, following which it will be in a better position to pronounce on its findings. He added that the company has assisted the injured men and the deceased in obtaining their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits and he reiterated that “those in authority” at PSI will pronounce on the report shortly.
Uncertain future
The vessel’s captain Delbert Williams remains missing and is presumed dead. When contacted yesterday, a relative stated that the man’s family members were unavailable.
Meanwhile, George Fitzpatrick told Stabroek News yesterday that he is still recovering from the horrific incident, which has left him “looking” at an uncertain future. Fitzpatrick was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) along with Keith Adams and Orlon Munroe, who succumbed to his injuries three months after the incident while nursing severe burns. He sustained second degree burns to the body, including to the torso and face, and he was discharged some three weeks after the incident.
Another crew member, Elvis Todd, escaped the inferno with minor injuries. He said that after being discharged from the hospital he had been attending clinic but he has since stopped. He explained that he is unable to work since his left hand is still healing.
He said the hand “still feels heated.” His wife Nicola stated that her husband’s pain is “uncontrollable” and according to her, at times during the day “when the place get hot, he does be very uncomfortable and it itch a lot.” She said that when the hand is healed, George will return to the doctor to have the hand scraped. She noted that such time may be months away.
This newspaper understands that PSI has been issuing a weekly voucher to take care of the injured man’s welfare but the company had notified the family that this would be until such time that the investigation was completed. Nicola stated that she and her husband will be meeting PSI officials soon to discuss future assistance.
Munroe’s mother Cherrel Munroe told Stabroek News yesterday that the seafood company did not make any form of compensation to the family since the incident. She stated that PSI did not “want to go into any agreement” until the investigation was completed.
She stated that she will be visiting the offices of the company next week. Her son was coping with third degree burns for three months but he passed away suddenly on September 5. Munroe, 19, of Virginia Village, Cane Grove Mahaica, sustained burns to most of his body.
His mother said that she read the articles in yesterday’s newspapers about the report and she believes that the company was at fault. She said her son mentioned to her a few times before the ill-fated trip the several problems the crew was having with the recurring alternator fault that saw them return to shore prematurely on several occasions.
The report stated that the company had not paid attention to the competence or experience of the crew employed by the captain, thus resulting in young men who have no experience or relevant training being employed to go to sea. The report did not state whether this was confined to the particular incident.
Asked for a comment on the latter, Nadir stated that anyone who is entering the field of work would not always have relevant experience and some persons learn while on-the-job. He said that “the problem is how much is relevant experience,” noting that the term varies. He reiterated that he would be in a better position to pronounce on the situation when he sees the report.
The investigation into the state of the vessel at the time of the incident found that several areas were lacking, including the absence of fire buckets, hand or rocket parachute flares, orange smoke signals, signal lamps or code flags.
There was also no official log book or engine-room log book and it was noted that no Emergency Station Bills were posted up on board.
It was noted that the vessel had documented evidence which indicated that it had a history of a malfunctioning alternator and while reports on the defective part were logged, no signature was affixed to same.
The team concluded that in keeping with the contract with the vessel’s captain, PSI should have provided a vessel that is structurally sound and fitted with serviceable mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment, that is, to have “a sea-worthy vessel.” PSI was in clear breach of this regulation, the investigating team noted.
