Summary Points
- The MV Barima capsized on July 18, 2026, while traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma in Guyana.
- Authorities say about 179 people were aboard the ferry, significantly more than the 133 passengers and crew originally recorded on the manifest.
- The disaster has left 73 people dead, 30 unaccounted for and 76 survivors, according to the latest reported figures.
- Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson have been charged with murder in connection with the tragedy.
- The three defendants were further remanded to prison on August 3, with the case scheduled to return to court on September 7.
- Guyana’s prime minister said two crew members, including the captain, tested positive for marijuana following the disaster.
- A five-member Commission of Inquiry has been established to investigate the ferry’s operation, passenger records, safety procedures and circumstances surrounding the sinking.
- Opposition lawmakers have demanded the resignation of government officials as questions grow over oversight of the state-run ferry system.
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Three senior crew members of the MV Barima have been charged with murder following a ferry disaster in Guyana that killed 73 people and left dozens more unaccounted for.
The state-operated ferry capsized on July 18 while traveling from the capital, Georgetown, to Port Kaituma in northwestern Guyana. Authorities believe approximately 179 people were aboard when the vessel went down, making it the country’s worst maritime disaster on record.
Captain Kevin Price, 40, Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson, 33, were charged with murder following an extensive police investigation into the sinking.
The three men initially appeared before a court in Georgetown on July 28 and were remanded to prison. Police said the charges were brought following legal advice from Guyana’s Director of Public Prosecutions.
Their case returned to court on August 3, when all three were further remanded. Prosecutors have begun providing evidence to defense lawyers, with full disclosure expected when the case returns to court on September 7. The defendants have not yet been tried or convicted.
The disaster has raised serious questions about how many people were actually aboard the MV Barima.
The vessel’s original manifest listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members, but authorities later determined that substantially more people had been traveling on the ferry. Officials now believe about 179 people were onboard.
As of the latest reported figures, 73 people have been confirmed dead, another 30 remain unaccounted for and 76 survived the disaster.
The investigation has also focused on the conduct of the crew. Prime Minister Mark Phillips said two crew members, including the captain, tested positive for marijuana after the accident. Authorities have not said that the test results alone caused the sinking, and investigators are examining multiple possible contributing factors.
Survivors have raised concerns about conditions aboard the ferry, including allegations that it was leaking and carrying too many passengers and cargo. The government has said those claims will be examined as part of the official investigation.
The MV Barima was an 87-year-old vessel operated by Guyana’s Transport and Harbours Department. Government officials have said the ferry had been considered seaworthy and was following its maintenance schedule before the disaster.
President Irfaan Ali’s government has established a five-member Commission of Inquiry made up of international legal and maritime experts to conduct a broader investigation into the tragedy.
The inquiry is expected to examine the ferry’s passenger and cargo records, maintenance and seaworthiness, crew qualifications, compliance with maritime safety standards and the effectiveness of the emergency response.
The disaster has also triggered political fallout in Guyana.
Opposition lawmakers have called for senior government officials to resign, arguing that failures in oversight contributed to the tragedy. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and other officials responsible for transportation infrastructure have faced growing scrutiny over the operation of the aging ferry.
The government has said a newer vessel had already been acquired to replace the MV Barima, but construction of infrastructure needed to accommodate the replacement ferry had not yet been completed.
As the criminal case moves forward, investigators and the Commission of Inquiry will face broader questions about passenger accountability, crew conduct, maritime safety and government oversight.
For families who lost loved ones or are still waiting for information about those missing, the investigations could determine not only what caused Guyana’s deadliest maritime disaster, but whether failures that contributed to it could have been prevented.