The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) found many breaches of the law during spot checks on the Essequibo and Mazaruni rivers on Thursday.
A MARAD release yesterday said that boat operators, Captains, bowmen and owners traversing the Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers were stopped and checked for documentation by officers from MARAD and urged to become licenced.
The release said that the exercise, with support from the Guyana Coast Guard, was not meant to penalise anyone as it was a compliance survey.
“As vessels were stopped during transit on the rivers, the team conducted quick inspections for life vests, boat registration or licences, Captain licences, bowman badge and worthiness of the vessels, and what was unearthed were many cases of non-compliance with the Maritime Law”, MARAD said.
Errant operators were advised that operating vessels without the requisite compliance is in fact a breach of the Maritime Law, which must be adhered to at all times, and errant and non-compliant operators will be fined and prosecuted accordingly.
The joint activity included the Registrar of Ships (MARAD), Gale Culley-Greene, Deputy River Navigation Officer (MARAD), Deighton Melville and Inspector (MARAD) Brian Dey along with Coast Guard Officers under the command of Senior Petty Officer Orlando Barkie.
Meanwhile, during the Bartica visit, Director of Maritime Safety, Captain Courtney McDonald and Safety Clerk, Quaislyn David took the opportunity on Thursday to conduct a training exercise for individuals who were desirous of obtaining a bowman’s badge, a river navigation licence, a boatmaster grade 3 licence (speedboat) or a certificate of competency.
