Passengers on the MV Sabanto, one of the Chinese ferries that ply the Essequibo River between Supenaam and Parika, were left stranded yesterday after it ran aground in the vicinity of Hog Island.
According to information reaching this newspaper, the ferry left Parika at around 6 am yesterday and was heading to Supenaam when the incident occurred.
Speaking with Stabroek News, one source who did not want his name published said that the boat had mechanical problems.
“When the boat reach Hog Island area, the engine drop and after the boat couldn’t move, it get ground up on the sand bank. Till round 11 o’clock [am] when the tide get high that is when it move and gone to Supenaam,” the source said.
Persons with vehicles that were on the boat had no option but to leave them there and the passengers had to disembark through the side of the ferry.
“Trucks and cars that went on the boat left deh till when they reach Supenaam and just like the last time when the passengers had to catch speedboat, that is what happen again this morning,” the source said.
This is the second such incident involving the same ferry. On November 18, last year, the captain of the ferry had somehow lost control and the boat ran aground at Wakenaam. Back then it had taken the authorities a few days to remove the vessel. (Kenesha Fraser)
