Efforts on Saturday to raise the fuel boat that sank in the Demerara River at Providence on Friday were futile and it remained close to the Texaco terminal preventing another fuel vessel from discharging its load.
The boat, which belongs to the Transport and Harbours Department, sank late on Friday afternoon in the Demerara River, in the vicinity of Providence, a statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA) had said. According to the statement, the fuel boat had 20 000 gallons of diesel onboard, and the captain reported that while the vessel was being loaded it appeared to have been sinking.
The captain, according to the release, “cast off in an attempt to seek assistance at a nearby facility and sank adjacent to the said facility.” The captain and two members were onboard at the time, but there were no casualties. “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Police Force and the Maritime Administration Department have been informed and are now investigating the matter,” the release said.
Concerns have been raised about the fuel escaping and yesterday, a person close to the operation told Stabroek News that a lot of the fuel had leaked out on Friday. It was not clear how much had leaked out and what clean up efforts might have to be made. Efforts yesterday to contact Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn for a comment were futile.
This newspaper was told that attempts were made to pull up the boat on Saturday but this proved futile. The tug which was used was not powerful enough to lift the vessel. Efforts were underway yesterday to source a more powerful tug to move the boat from the river-bed. The point at which it lies is very deep, according to the source and on Saturday a vessel which had arrived in Guyana to bring fuel could not moor at the terminal to discharge its load.
It was pointed out that the sunken vessel has to be removed because boats would be unable to dock if it remains there. A buoy has been placed at the point where the sunken boat rests.
A source within the industry told Stabroek News that the vessel’s name is `Mother Ganga’ and it was due to be docked for maintenance.
