San Pedro Vessel Grounded After Steering Malfunction

A routine water taxi trip between San Pedro and Caye Caulker took a dangerous turn over the weekend when a San Pedro Belize Express vessel ran aground on a small island west of San Pedro. Authorities say no serious injuries were reported, but both the Belize Port Authority and the Belize Coast Guard have opened investigations into what went wrong.

The boat was carrying 40 people, 36 passengers and 2 crew members, when it entered shallow waters behind the island. A second vessel from the same company arrived shortly after to ferry passengers safely from the scene.

Ports Commissioner Kaylon Young confirmed the vessel experienced mechanical issues with its steering before veering into a nearby island. He said the Port Authority is focused on identifying the root cause: “We must see what’s the root cause of the incident… whether it was the vessel itself, the competence of the master and crew, or the navigation equipment.”

Young emphasised that water taxis undergo strict annual inspections, with additional requirements for passenger safety. “We know that they carry passengers, and we have to ensure that our passengers are safe, and so we have stricter requirements for these commercial passenger vessels.”

Lieutenant Mark Choc, Operations Officer of the Coast Guard, described the rapid response after a fisherman reported the accident. “We were able to reach the area about five minutes, within five to ten minutes, receiving information.”

He confirmed there were no serious injuries. “The vessel was high and dry…The crew were well safe. There’s no serious injuries observed on the scene.”

Choc stressed the importance of speed in such emergencies. “In these types of accidents, lives can be lost, and a quick response is a priority… The Coast Guard tries to maintain a 15-minute response time.”

When asked how a vessel could end up in such a situation, Choc said, “There are many reasons why a vessel could lead to that situation. But so far, I cannot confirm what is the cause of this specific situation. It’s under investigation, so I cannot really confirm yet until the investigation is completed.”