A preliminary report has found that overcrowding and the use of a vessel that was not built to carry passengers were among the factors that contributed to Thursday's boating tragedy that claimed the lives of two women.

The report by the Maritime Authority also blamed adverse sea conditions and the absence of any communication device on board the F/V Geraldine for the mishap that unfolded off the coast of Port Royal in Kingston.

According to the document, a copy of which was obtained by The Gleaner yesterday, the F/V Geraldine was "not licensed by the Maritime Authority to carry passengers".

Further, it said that the vessel was last inspected in 2014, and at that time, it was "certified to carry eight persons, including the captain".

"However, at the time of the incident, there were 12 persons on board, in addition to the captain," the report said.

The document noted, too, that Harbour Rules 1971 "prohibit the operation of vessels carrying passengers for gain without the vessel being issued with a certificate evidencing sea-worthiness granted by the Maritime Authority".

Edith Betsha, 45, and Jannel Decasseres, 35, were pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital hours after the F/V Geraldine capsized minutes into a routine trip to Maiden Cay.

ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND

According to the Maritime Authority report, the vessel departed Port Royal about 8:45 a.m. and was 10 minutes into the trip when the captain observed that the boat "was shipping water due to rough seas".

He reportedly asked a female passenger to assist by bailing out the water that was gathering in the stern "as his right arm had arthritis".

"The captain reported that she was not bailing out the water fast enough, so he slowed down to reduce the volume of water entering the vessel. He then tried to increase the vessel's speed, but the engine did not respond. The vessel then suddenly began to sink from the stern," the report said.

"The passengers floated out of the vessel. All passengers were in the sea for approximately two hours after the vessel sank," it added.

The Maritime Authority also noted that there was no communication device on board the boat to alert nearby vessels, the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, or the Marine Police about the incident.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com [3]