Ferry Carrying 116 Passengers Sinks Off Guyana Coast, 53 Rescued

Published 19 July 2026 · finance

Ferry Carrying 116 Passengers Sinks Off Guyana Coast, 53 Rescued Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 15:56 IST The ferry, MV Barima, capsized near

Ferry Carrying 116 Passengers Sinks Off Guyana Coast, 53 Rescued Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 15:56 IST The ferry, MV Barima, capsized near Iron Punt, while heading to Port Kaituma from Georgetown. Rapid Read The ferry was carrying 116 passengers and crew. A ferry carrying 116 passengers and crew sank off the coast of Guyana in South America overnight. According to local authorities, 53 people have been rescued so far. The ferry, MV Barima, capsized near Iron Punt, while heading to Port Kaituma from Georgetown, the BBC reported. A distress call was received at 23:01 local time (03:01 +1 BST), prompting an urgent search and rescue operation involving both state and private vessels, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said in a statement shared on social media.

Guyana Boat Capsize: Rescue Ops Underway “At about 3:15 pm this afternoon (1915 GMT), the MV Barima departed with 116 passengers plus crew for port Kaituna," Edghill said in a video posted on his Facebook page. The minister added that medical services were headed to the area to attend the passengers rescued by Guyana’s coast guard and by private boats. The status of the operation remains unclear, and authorities have not indicated whether they expect to rescue the remaining passengers. According to VesselFinder, the MV Barima was built in 1939 and measures 40 metres (131 feet) in length. Edghill said the vessel was equipped with 250 life jackets, two rigid lifeboats and six inflatable life rafts.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips is reportedly leading the government’s response to the incident. Port Kaituma is a town in the Essequibo region, an area at the centre of a long-standing territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered How many passengers are still missing? Search continues for 63 others after a ferry carrying 116 passengers and crew sank off the coast of Guyana. 53 people have been rescued, with eight rescued according to another report. The ferry, MV Barima, was en route to Port Kaituma from Georgetown when it capsized. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.

She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More Location: Guyana First Published: July 19, 2026, 15:56 IST News world Ferry Carrying 116 Passengers Sinks Off Guyana Coast, 53 Rescued Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...