(Trinidad Guardian) Six months after wreaking environmental havoc on Tobago’s Windward coast, the mysterious Gulfstream barge is in Port-of-Spain and undergoing preparation for storage.
The 100-metre-long vessel became the subject of environmental concern and political debate after February 7 when the Tobago Emergency Management Agency received reports of a capsized ship off the coast of Cove. A thick, oil-like substance was washing up on nearby coastlines and spanning beaches from Rockley Bay to Canoe Bay.
Laboratory tests revealed that it was bunker fuel. It was unclear when the barge capsized, what happened, who was on board, who owned it and its destination.The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) reported that it successfully floated the partially sunken barge at 11.54 pm on Monday. In a media release yesterday, the MEEI said that two tug boats from the National Energy Corporation towed the barge from Cove, Tobago, to Sea Lots, in its overturned state, in a 30-hour voyage.
The MEEI said the operation followed the direction of technical experts from T&T Salvage LLC and QT Environmental. A Pollution Task Force comprising local responders and crews equipped with NOFI Current Buster Systems and Rapid Deployment Skimmer Systems (RDSS) attached to QT Environmental followed the tugs to facilitate the immediate capture and recovery of any residual hydrocarbons if needed.
“The MEEI reported that the transit of the barge progressed smoothly and on schedule. ADCI-certified divers completed survey assessments of the barge at 5.25 pm on August 21 off Chacachacare, Trinidad. The results of this survey provided the assurance needed for the vessel to enter the Sea Lots channel. The last stage of the journey to Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain, was completed at 6.43 am,” the media release stated.The MEEI said weather conditions coupled with high and low tides were two principal factors governing the timing and execution of the re-float and tow exercise.
The MEEI said the last phase of the operation entails technical experts preparing the barge for storage. They will then officially hand over the barge to the Director of Maritime Services Lt Cmdr Ronald Alfred, as the Principal Receiver of Wrecks.“The Principal Receiver of Wrecks is empowered under the Shipping Act to exercise general direction and supervision over all matters relating to wrecks and salvage. This handover will represent the completion of the scope of operations handled by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and its international partners, T&T Salvage/QT Environmental,” the MEEI said.
Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young thanked everyone involved in the oil spill containment efforts and transported the Gulfstream safely to Trinidad for disposal. Guardian Media attempted to contact Young to ascertain whether authorities identified and contacted the owner of the barge and if the State can move ahead with a lawsuit. However, there was no response.
