The lifeguard who was hit and injured by a vessel off Maracas Bay last week is at home resting.
William Grimshaw was released from the hospital last Friday and Guardian Media was told that he’s recovering well except for occasional headaches. He is scheduled for a computerized tomography (CT) scan soon.
Last Wednesday, while Grimshaw and a colleague were training to dive on an island off Maracas Bay he was knocked unconscious by a pirogue.
He sustained injuries to his head and shoulder and was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Police are continuing their investigation as the lifeguards had a buoy in the water, a universal marker used to notify oncoming traffic of their presence.
Maritime attorney Nyree Alfonso said the Collision Regulations, which are universal, and part of the Shipping Act give guidance to seafarers.
Regulations made under the Shipping Act Chapter 50:10, which reproduces the 1972 International Convention for Preventing Collisions at Sea, provide a global set of safety rules.
She said in the existing scenario that the driver of the boat failed to exercise a safe manoeuvring ring in light of the buoy put down by the lifeguards.
The regulations give the rules for vessels which can be extrapolated when it is a person who is impacted, she said.
Senior Superintendent for the North-Eastern Division Winston Maharaj said their investigation found that the vessel was new and unregistered.
According to the Act, all vessels that are propelled by rowing or paddling like a lifeboat are required to be registered to sail on Trinidad and Tobago’s waters.
If it is a fishing vessel it must be registered with Fisheries Division, and have a TTFV designation on its bow.
Steps to register a vessel in T&T can be found on the Ministry of Works and Transport website, here… https://mowt.gov.tt/Divisions/Maritime/Services/Registration-of-Vessels.
Maharaj said as soon as doctors give clearance for Grimshaw to give a statement they will reach out to him.
But he said the investigation is alive.
