Overview:
The GIS Patriot cargo ship capsized close to Tortuga Island whereas carrying items and passengers from Cap-Haïtien to Miragoâne. Sixteen individuals have been rescued, however the ship sank into the ocean, leading to all property being misplaced. The accident underscores the rising dependence on dangerous maritime journey because of gang-controlled highways.
PORT-DE-PAIX — A cargo ship, the GIS Patriot, capsized Friday, Aug. 22, off the Tortuga Canal between Haiti’s Ile de La Tortue or Tortuga Island and Port-de-Paix, the principle port metropolis of the Northwest Division. The ship, registered in Port-au-Prince, was transporting items, together with tons of rice and 16 individuals touring from Cap-Haïtien to the Miragoâne seaport in Nippes.
“All passengers are alive — there are 10 crew members and 6 passengers. All the products are misplaced, I can not consider how a lot cash,” Léonel Deshommes, the departmental director of Haiti’s Maritime and Navigation Service (SEMANAH), advised The Haitian Occasions.
With authorities businesses absent, residents of Tortuga Island rushed to the scene in small boats and picket canoes to rescue survivors.
“Within the absence of coordinated rescue efforts, residents intervened urgently to assist save lives, however all the pieces else was misplaced,” stated ship captain Enelran Petit-Homme.
The shipwreck underscores the rising reliance on dangerous sea journey in Haiti. The 185-mile journey from Cap-Haïtien (north) to Miragoâne (southwest) may as soon as be made in about 4 hours by highway. However with gangs controlling key highways via Port-au-Prince, merchants and vacationers more and more flip to maritime routes regardless of weak security enforcement.
SEMANAH acknowledged the lack of property however praised the absence of fatalities. In a statement, the company pledged to step up patrols and security measures. “The Coast Guard, Civil Safety and SEMANAH are dedicated to redoubling efforts to strengthen surveillance, maritime safety and interventions in Haitian waters,” the company stated.
Nonetheless, critics argue SEMANAH has lengthy didn’t implement rules. Haiti’s poorly monitored waters are infamous for unsafe, overloaded vessels that typically try clandestine journeys to different Caribbean islands or Florida.
An overloaded ship sank off Cocoye Seaside in Petit-Goâve throughout its journey from Port-au-Prince to Miragoâne, leaving many households on Haiti’s southwestern coast mourning amid an unsuccessful seek for lacking family members.
Native officers additionally stepped in after the incident. Max William Etienne, mayor of Tortuga Island, led the rescue efforts and confirmed for The Haitian Occasions that every one 16 individuals have been saved. On the similar time, the Nationwide Ambulance Middle (CAN) stated 9 of them have been taken to the Immaculate Conception Hospital in Port-de-Paix for therapy.
“No life was misplaced, however some passengers suffered trauma and well being issues,” stated CAN director Mildly Charléus, who known as for extra sources, together with boats and helicopters, to reply to maritime emergencies.
The ship’s captain, Petit-Homme, criticized the dearth of presidency response greater than 24 hours after the sinking.
“Everybody was rescued safely and alive, there have been 10 crew members and 6 passengers. However, all the products are misplaced; I can not say precisely how a lot cash was misplaced within the shipwreck.”
Léonel Deshommes, Northwest Departmental Director of SEMANAH
“We answered all their questions and offered data, however they nonetheless haven’t given us any help,” he advised The Haitian Occasions.
He added that the ship was not overloaded and had proven no indicators of misery earlier than instantly capsizing.
The GIS Patriot’s accident displays not solely Haiti’s fragile maritime security but in addition the broader insecurity on land that forces merchants and vacationers to danger the ocean. “State authorities should resolve the issue of insecurity on the roads to permit individuals to journey,” stated Charléus.