Guyana's New $12.7M Ferry Sat Idle While 87-Year-Old Vessel It Was Meant to Replace Capsized, Killing ~100

A US$12.7 million replacement ferry purchased from India sat idle because Port Kaituma's pier wasn't finished. The 87-year-old MV Barima kept serving the Georgetown–Port Kaituma route and capsized on July 18, 2026, leaving around 100 dead. The new vessel, capable of carrying over 300 passengers, remained undeployable due to the incomplete pier.