| – live wire caused fire – survivorOfficials are expected to make another fly-over of the Waini area this morning in search of the missing captain of a fishing trawler which caught fire Saturday morning.Search officials have since confirmed that late Saturday evening, they were able to recover a missing fish tub which was carrying Captain Delbert Williams when he was last seen, along with a lifeboat.Injured survivors also disclosed that the fire started from a live, sparking electric wire in the engine room which came in contact with fuel which was being pumped around 09:00 hrs Saturday morning.The damaged Captain Lloyd 97 at the McDoom Village wharf of Prittipaul Singh Investments. Yesterday, the fishing company,NFL Jerseys Cheap, Prittipaul Singh Investments Inc. at McDoom Village, East Bank Demerara, refused to allow reporters in to take pictures of the damaged Captain Lloyd 97 which was brought in yesterday and moored at the wharf there.Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, whose portfolio also covers fishing, visited three of the four crewmen yesterday who were rescued by a Venezuelan ship where it was disclosed that the fishing company has been urged to ensure that another fly-over is done.Injured and in the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Burn Unit are 20-year-old Keith Adams of Cane Grove; fellow villager, Orlon Munroe, 19, and George Fitzpatrick, 40, of West Ruimveldt.Another crewmember, Elvis Todd, who suffered the least injuries, has been discharged from the hospital, officials there said.Harrowing TalesAccording to Munroe, who suffered the worst burns to about 90 per cent of his body and who was the most critical, he along with Captain Williams were pumping fuel in the engine room when the fire occurred.The boat, Captain Lloyd 97, was said to have been miles off the Waini area in open waters.Munroe disclosed that they attempted to start the engine but a wire started to spark and then next thing, there was fire “all over”.“I feel fire all over me body and me and the captain run out of the engine room. I jump overboard.”A badly injured Munroe, who was placed in a two-man lifeboat, said that he did not see the Captain again.His crewmate, Fitzpatrick, disclosed that he was sleeping when he was awakened by the heat. About 25 per cent of his body was burnt. Fitzpatrick said that he was able to put the badly injured Captain in a tub used to store fish while he and Todd managed to grab on to the cover of the same tub.They were in the water for about 30 minutes when the Venezuelan ship was sighted.“We waved and dem noticed us before they came across.” The men were taken aboard the ship where calls were made to Prittipaul Singh.A vessel from the company made its way there where the injured four persons were taken aboard and brought to the city on Sunday.According to Adams, he too was sleeping when he was awakened by the heat. It was his first time at sea. He was placed in the life-boat.Yesterday, an official of the fishing company said that the vessel was well equipped with fire extinguishers and life jackets and this was evidenced by checks made by Fire and Coast Guard officials yesterday who boarded it at the McDoom wharf. A team comprising officials from the company, the Fisheries Department, Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is expected to fly into the area this morning to make more checks, the official disclosed.InvestigationMeanwhile, Minister Persaud disclosed that he had commissioned an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and to ensure that the industry does not suffer. The team includes officials from the Guyana Fire Service, the Coast Guard, the Fisheries Department of the Ministry, and MARAD.He assured that his Ministry will be moving to ensure that safety standards on fishing vessels are maintained and they are seaworthy. Persaud also visited the McDoom facility yesterday where he inspected the burnt vessel.“I insisted to the company that they must ensure that these crewmembers get the best possible care and make an all-out attempt to continue the search for Mr. Williams.”The Minister said that his Ministry was serious about health and safety above fishing vessels. |
