Videsh John and Gregory Singh identified as missing after molasses barge sinks

Two missing men have been identified as 22-year-old Videsh John of Goed Banan Land, East Canje, Berbice, and 52-year-old Gregory Singh, after a molasses barge sank early Monday morning off the East Coast of Demerara.

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According to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), a distress signal was received at approximately 01:00 hours on Monday, March 9, 2026, reporting that the tanker barge TRADER III had sunk about 9.5 nautical miles off Buxton.
At the time, the vessel was transporting molasses from Berbice to Georgetown.

MARAD said emergency response operations were activated immediately after the distress signal to locate the missing crew members.

The search and rescue operation is being coordinated by MARAD’s Emergency Operations Coordinator, Captain John Flores, with support from the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard and the vessel’s owner.

Authorities confirmed that search efforts are ongoing as teams continue to comb the area where the vessel reportedly sank.