Polish Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, Dr Andrzej Jasionowski, who is among the five Commissioners appointed to investigate the deadly MV Barima tragedy, said he met with the “preferred” salvage team on Tuesday. He later explained that the BK International company is the team that is preparing to salvage the sunken MV Barima ferry.
“I have met with a potential or I understand preferred salvage team to discuss the process of salvaging and the process of evidence preservation. I understand that the negotiations and conclusions of that undertaking is still ongoing but I was made to understand that it is a matter of days that this will be concluded, and that the salvage operations will commence this month,” Dr Jasionowski explained.
Two local companies – BK International Inc and Industrial Fabrication Inc – and a Dutch company out of the Netherlands, KMS B.V, had submitted bids for the salvaging of the vessel that sank on July 18, 2026.
Dr Jasionowski assured that the Commission will be informed of the progress of the plans to salvage the vessel, adding that it is possible that the Commissioners will get an opportunity to witness the salvage operations.
He said the vessel still holds significant forensic value although it has been sitting on the seabed for almost three months.
“If I may use, quantification, near 100%, the ship will give us clues that we seek on its state as it sank. It is made of steel, the Cargo is still within the confides or most of it, so, the forensic value will be there almost in its entirety. The time has very little effect,” the Commissioner explained.
Weighing in on the issue, Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard said while the Commission remains hopeful that the vessel would be salvaged, the work of the Commission is not entirely hinged on that.
“Additionally, we are hopeful that the vessel will be retrieved but whether it is retrieved or not, there are still a lot of work and conclusions that could be arrived at and those findings are critical to reforming and improving your Maritime Sector, and the safety of how vessels conduct themselves in that space. So, please do not believe that all of our work is hinged on whether this vessel is retrieved or not. That is not correct,” Commissioner Pritchard explained.
While the Commission awaits the vessel to be salvaged, it is moving ahead with its work. Its attorneys have been gathering documentary evidence, and next Wednesday public hearings are scheduled to commence.
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