In the wake of Saturday’s deadly river ferry tragedy in Guyana, a veteran Caribbean mariner and fishing industry leader is sounding a urgent call for strict regional safety regulations and coordinated emergency response frameworks for any future inter-Caribbean passenger ferry network. Moonesh Dharampaul, president of the Black Fin Fleet Co-operative Society, argues that the fatal Guyana incident exposes systemic regulatory gaps that Caribbean governing bodies cannot ignore as regional leaders push to expand cross-territory passenger maritime travel.
The Guyana disaster, Dharampaul explained, stems from profound failures in basic safety oversight: the involved vessel suffered from inadequate maintenance, and critical safety equipment including lifeboats and life rafts were not properly provisioned. This lesson, he emphasized, must shape the development of any inter-island ferry service across the Caribbean. Vessel suitability is a foundational priority, he noted, with passenger safety depending entirely on selecting craft engineered for Caribbean sea conditions.
While Dharampaul is a vocal supporter of the inter-Caribbean ferry project, pointing to its significant economic and social potential for the region, he stresses that formal, binding legal and administrative protocols must be locked in place before any commercial operations launch. Most critically, he is calling for a unified emergency response framework coordinated through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), noting that current fragmented governance leaves a dangerous question unanswered: if a ferry gets into distress mid-voyage, which Caribbean territory holds responsibility for rescue, towing, and support?
“If it is a CARICOM vessel, we should have CARICOM input to support that vessel and make sure that it is going well,” Dharampaul said. He added that existing regional security structures should be leveraged to build out this coordinated response system.
Beyond governance, Dharampaul outlined vessel design considerations tailored to Caribbean waters, arguing that catamaran-style craft are the optimal choice due to their far greater deck stability compared to alternative designs. Even with appropriate vessels, however, he highlighted a suite of growing hazards amplified by climate change and unique to the region that operators and regulators must prepare for.
The Caribbean, while often framed as climate-resilient, faces rapidly shifting weather patterns, especially during hurricane season, that create consistent operational risks. Beyond storms, Dharampaul pointed to two underdiscussed hazards that threaten passenger ferries: massive, spreading sargassum seaweed blooms that clog propellers and obscure underwater obstacles, and large submerged logs called “shooting stars” that drift out of South American rivers into Caribbean shipping lanes. Both hazards are invisible from the surface, creating major risks for moving vessels that can lead to engine failure or hull damage.
To mitigate these overlapping risks, Dharampaul said regional authorities should implement layered operational safeguards instead of relying on unregulated single-vessel operations. He proposed a staggered dual-vessel system: multiple craft operating shifted schedules on the same route, ensuring that at least one vessel is always positioned to provide emergency assistance if another runs into trouble. He also insisted that a dedicated, fully equipped rescue vessel must be on standby for every active route, with the capacity to tow disabled ferries and evacuate passengers if needed.
Despite ongoing uncertainty among investors and financial institutions, who have raised concerns about ambiguous legal liability and regulatory frameworks, Dharampaul remains optimistic that a properly structured regional ferry network will deliver widespread benefits that outweigh logistical challenges. He highlighted the transformative social impact the service would have for Caribbean families separated by national borders, noting that affordable, accessible inter-island travel would let people visit loved ones easily in a way that is currently out of reach for many. Done right, he argued, a safe inter-Caribbean ferry service would become a transformative driver of integration and growth for the entire region.