THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) after venturing out 150 miles at sea, towed the French-registered yacht “Allegro” that was discovered recently drifting with a dead man and a dog to Guyana’s shores. The vessel was expected to arrive last evening. MARAD Director-General, Claudette Rogers, told this publication that it is the agency’s responsibility to take corrective action and when the vessel is eventually moored, contact will be made with the French Consulate to determine the way forward, while local authorities fulfil their duties accordingly.
A joint operation consisting of the Guyana Defence Force Coastguard, MARAD, and the Guyana Police Force assisted in retrieving the boat that was spotted Wednesday drifting off the shore of Guyana.
Reports disclosed that a tanker, which was moving from Jamaica to Brazil, observed the French-registered yacht drifting with the tide out at sea. A dead man and a dog were spotted inside the yacht. The captain of the tanker sent a transmission which was picked up by the local coastguard who informed the relevant agencies.
The captain of the tanker informed the coastguard that they could not stop as they had to continue along their journey, but provided the coordinates of the yacht.
Using the information, the GDF Skyvan conducted a flyover to confirm the information, which they did. The aircraft returned to the coast and a team from MARAD, the GDF and the GPF journeyed to the location via boat.
The operation will entail the securing of the body of the man and his dog as well as ensuring that the vessel was brought to shore, so that investigations can be conducted and the post-mortem performed on the body to determine the cause of death. The local French Consulate here in Guyana has been informed of the development and is also said to be monitoring the situation.

By Rabindra Rooplall