Barge that caused oil spill off the coast of Tobago re-floated

The Trinidad & Tobago government said Tuesday that the vessel that overturned off the Coast of Cove in Tobago was successfully refloated late on Monday night.

“Following significant groundwork and preparations, the re-float operations commenced yesterday afternoon at 5:50 p.m. and was completed by 11:54 p.m.,” the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries said in a statement.

It was done under the supervision of a team from an internationally recognised salvage company, T&T Salvage Inc, the ministry said.

“The team comprised of a senior salvage master, naval architect and a contingent of skilled salvors with the support of the technical staff at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries,” it added.

In March, the government said that the oil leak from a barge carrying up to 35,000 barrels of fuel oil that capsized in early February had stopped.

The spill, which was first spotted off the coast of Tobago’s Atlantic coast on February 7, damaged some of the island’s mangrove and threatened its tourism and fishing sector. It also entered the Caribbean Sea, threatening nearby Venezuela and Caribbean islands, including Bonaire.

In the statement, the ministry said that the Gulfstream barge is currently stationed approximately three nautical miles away from its original resting place and is now afloat holding station in waters 60 metres deep off the coast of Cove, secured and supported by tugs.

It said that the temporary facility at the Cove site has now been decommissioned and that “ activities will now focus on conducting an underwater survey by the dive team utilising ADCI or Association of Diving Contractors International certified divers.

“This survey is required for the assessment of the areas of the barge which were previously inaccessible and to remove any hanging debris that would impact towing operations.”

The statement said that after the completion of the dive survey, the barge will be cleared for the transit-tow phase of operations.

“The Gulfstream casualty which remains in an overturned state will be towed by two support tugs provided by the National Energy Corporation, as well as a contingent of other vessels. This journey from Cove, Tobago to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, is estimated to be 33 hours long.”

The authorities said that as a contingency during its transit to Port-of-Spain, the Gulfstream will be escorted by NOFI Current Busters and QT Environmental pollution response crews, trained in recovering oil from the sea surface.

“The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has been leading operations and has undertaken the management of the overall response to date. Regular updates will be provided as the re-float and tow phase progresses by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries,” the statement added.

The ministry did not disclose the financial aspect of the operation, but in May this year, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Trinidad & Tobago expects to receive “a significant sum” in compensation for the ongoing oil spill clean-up in Tobago.

Rowley said that the oil spill had occurred because of the activities of “people who did not want others to know that they were involved in what was happening there”.

“The ocean is a very big place and a lot of things go on there and that’s why there is an international body which exists to come to a country’s aid if you find yourself being damaged by an oil spill of that nature or similar nature,” the PM said.

Rowley did not name the international agency, but Energy and Energy Industries Minister, Stuart Young, said Port of Spain had made representation to the United Kingdom-based International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund seeking compensation of US$14 million to US$20 million.

CMC