Discontinued in September, the inquiry came to a halt days later after it ran into legal problems with the matter being appealed to the Supreme Court.
It was unclear as to whether Bahamian or adopted British laws should be applied in the proceedings.
However, a month later, Supreme Court Justice Hugh Small ruled that both laws were applicable.
The hearing was initially called to determine what happened during the pre-dawn hours of the boat collision between the island of Eleuthera and the Exumas.
The United Star, a barge en route to Nassau, collided with the Sea Hauler, on which 194 passengers were headed to Cat Island for its Emancipation Day celebrations.
As a result of the accident, 14-year-old Lynden Riley, Livingston Seymour, 38, and sisters Brenda Smith-Ellis, 40, and Brennel Smith-Leslie, 29 died. Some 29 others were severely injured.
The hearing was initially expected to span 12 weeks, with about 80 people to take the witness stand.
Sources have informed The Guardian that attorneys for those who sought an accommodation between the Bahamian and adopted British legal codes are complete and all witnesses have been served with relevant documents, paving the way for the Wreck Commissioner’s hearing to resume.
Lawyer Cheryl Grant-Bethel of the Attorney General’s Office is lead counsel for the hearing.
The Nassau Guardian
