Georgetown: An intense search has commenced in order to determine the whereabouts of the MV Oliver L. which went missing last week Wednesday (December 21, 2011). The vessel, registered in the name of Raymond Lord, left Trinidad destined for Port Georgetown, Guyana, but to date has not arrived and its crew members have not been heard from.
A formal report has since been lodged at the Leonora Police Station and Harbour Master and a telephone report was also made to the CID Department at Eve Leary even as the search continues across several territorial waters.
Reports are that the last contact made with the Master of the vessel was at 08:00hrs on Thursday December 22, 2011. The vessel was being crewed by Mampy Andrews, Sunil and Clad Burnette. It was said to be equipped with Satellite Phone and was expected to arrive in Guyana on Christmas Eve Day. However, the vessel has not arrived although it was expected to be delayed because of bad weather which should have seen a new arrival date because of Boxing Day (December 26, 2011). There has however been no communication with the vessel and there has been no sighting recorded.
On December 27, 2011, an aircraft from Air Services Limited was hired to do an aerial search. The aircraft flew up to the Guyana border at Waini in the North West Region. Nothing was seen of the vessel.
There are reports that the Trinidad Coast Guards have since been notified and a search has since been conducted along their southern shores but nothing has been observed. In addition the Venezuelan Coast Guards have been notified and they reported that an aerial search along their coast was mounted by their Air Force but nothing again was observed. Based on advice of senior seamen, the Trinidad Coast Guards were once again advised that there is a possibility that the vessel could have drifted along the Eastern coast of Trinidad towards Grenada. Trinidad Coast Guards immediately advised that they would conduct a search in that area.
The Trinidad Coast Guard subsequently advised that they had notified the Coast Guards in Venezuela, Guyana, Barbados, Tobago and Grenada and they also will be notifying all islands up to Puerto Rico.
On December 28, a small wooden vessel was dispatched with three experienced seamen to comb the Venezuela Orinoco River area. Those vessels are yet to return and report on their findings.
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