The T&T Coast Guard and Air Guard were yesterday engaged in a search for a southern-based pirogue with a group of about eight aboard—including two women—which went missing since last Friday while en route from Trinidad to Tobago. TTCG communications officer Kirk Jean-Baptiste said yesterday that if the vessel was not found by today, they would incorporate the assistance of Venezuelan authorities in the search. There was no report of a sighting of the boat up to late yesterday.
The people aboard the vessel, registered as “Davi Ann” PFZ 94, are said to be from Marabella, Springvale, La Romain and Guayaguyare, the T&T Guardian learned. The group left a beachfront port off the Marabella Trainline on Friday evening, reportedly to go for a “lime.” They were expected back on Saturday morning but didn’t arrive. Yesterday, Jean-Baptiste said the owner was listed as Henry Scott and one other person aboard was known to be James Cook.
He said the relatives of a young woman reported to be on the vessel have filed a “missing persons” report with police following the vessel’s failure to reach its destination. But Jean-Baptiste said reports received by the authorities had initially been conflicting. He said the first reports - coming in around 12.30 pm on Saturday - were that the pirogue carrying seven had left “Maracas to go to Tobago” and had disappeared between Trinidad and Tobago.
The second report was that the vessel left Marabella at 4.30 pm on Friday with eight people on board. Jean-Baptiste said reports indicated that the vessel apparently got into some difficulty outside Maracas and was fixed and then left Maracas at 9 pm on Friday on its way to Pigeon Point, Tobago.
Further information received was that it was subsequently indicated, from someone on board, that the boat had shut down due to lack of gas, but the passengers had sighted Tobago. This was before sunrise on Saturday. He said apparently people in Tobago made a search for the vessel themselves later that morning, but the TTCG was later officially informed that day.
“The Air Guard is doing flights to try and determine where they are and the Coast Guard will continue sea searches. We’ll involve the Venezuelan authorities (Monday) if they haven’t been found by then,” Jean-Baptiste said. “Incidents such as these reinforce the need for everyone to be aware of the necessary steps one has to take in such trips - everyone needs to know where they’re going and inform people.
“Ensure you have enough water, fuel and emergency supplies. Don’t overload the boat also. Flashlights and flares are very important no matter what size the vessel is. Also remember cell phones only have a range while close to land, so don’t rely on that alone.” People’s National Movement San Fernando officials monitoring the issue said they were also concerned about the families of the missing persons, since the relatives were extremely worried after not hearing from the pirogue’s passengers since the vessel left last Friday.
Sources said if the vessel was out of gas and drifting, it may have been carried by the currents westwards nearer Venezuela by yesterday afternoon.