At approximately 15:50 hours yesterday, the Transport & Harbours Department (T&HD) vessel “Sandaka” and a small passenger boat “Akeela” collided with each other in the Essequibo River, near the Parika Stelling, a statement from the T&HD said.
The collision occurred as the Sandaka which serves the Leguan to Parika route was berthing alongside the Parika Stelling, while the captain of the Akeela refused to move his boat from the position alongside which is reserved for the T&HD’s vessels.
The T&HD said that the Akeela operates the Parika –Wakenaam – Supenaam service and had twenty three persons on board. As the collision seemed imminent, some of its passengers jumped overboard, the T&HD said.
Some minor injuries were reported but there were no fatalities. The AKEELA suffered some damage but no damage was reported on the MV Sandaka.
Officers from the T&HD and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) are investigating this incident, the T&HD said.
