| … Trawler explosionWhile Prittipaul Singh Investment Inc. is complying with the recommendations of the trawler report, the company is disagreeing with several other aspects of the report; this was according to a company official.Kaieteur News was told that the company is expected to issue a statement on the entire matter on Wednesday.Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud has hinted that a file was being prepared and is expected to be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers to determine if any criminal charges would be brought against the seafood company.Persaud said that he could not say offhand if anyone would be held accountable, adding that the report is being studied by the Agriculture Ministry Fisheries Department. One thing the Minister was adamant about is that any trawlers found breaching the Ministry’s codes will not have its licenses renewed.“Trawler owners must not look at money…. they must fight to ensure safety,” he said.On Wednesday evening, the Board of Inquiry which was ordered to do an investigation into the explosion found that the fire was caused by a faulty alternator which was exposed to a sparking wire. The report stated that had the alternator been carefully checked, serviced, repaired or replaced with a proper functioning one, this casualty might not have occurred.The report further slammed the seafood company for poor safety practices, noting that the vessel only had one small lifeboat without paddles or oars, and there was no bailer.The Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Department in a press release on Thursday said that it was very concerned about the findings of the preliminary report. The release further stated that the findings would be its main topic at the next meeting with the Fisheries Advisory Committee, with a view to ensuring that the recommendations made by the report will be adhered across the board by all fishing vessels, especially trawlers.It also expected that all Occupational Safety and Health systems are in place and that the crewmembers of vessels are able to work in a safe environment.Furthermore, the release said that the ministry’s Fisheries Department will be collaborating with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to ensure that all vessels will have the necessary requirements in place and that the crewmembers are capable of operating sea vessels.The continued licenses of trawlers will be linked to the recommendations and the most stringent examination of vessels and related requirements will be done to ensure that such irregularities and deficiencies are rectified before licenses are issued.In a detailed report it was explained that the vessel,China Jerseys Free Shipping, Captain Lloyd 97, was owned and operated by PSI,Cheap Soccer Jerseys, and had been taken on a test run on June 18,Cheap China Jerseys, last, which lasted about 45 minutes.The test run was done by mechanic,Cheap Jerseys, Ray Griffith, who was not certified to do so.According to the report, while at sea it was Elvis Todd, who was also injured in the fire, who said that Orlon Munroe was the person who observed that the alternator had an exposed wire. Munroe, in turn, reported it to the captain.The report states that it was Munroe who attended to the problem.It was recommended in the report that the company should urgently seek to develop a Quality Management System and it is imperative that the author of this management system be qualified and experienced consultant with relevant nautical knowledge and competence.Further, the report recommended that a company occupational health and safety manual which must include health and safety on board vessels.The report recommended that the owner of the vessel must seek to appoint persons who have the relevant skills and qualifications.Further it was suggested that the company should have a mechanic onboard,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, not necessarily as a crewmember,Discount NFL Jerseys, but as a utility man. |
