A massive fuel oil spill off the coast of Tobago is posing a significant threat to the Caribbean Sea and its neighboring countries. The Trinidad and Tobago government confirmed on Friday that the substance leaking from an overturned barge is an intermediate fuel oil, commonly used as bunker fuel in combustion engines.
The spill was first detected by Trinidad’s Coast Guard on February 7 after the barge, being towed by a tugboat, struck a reef and capsized near Tobago’s shore. Since then, the fuel has been leaking for over three weeks, staining Tobago’s coastline, disrupting fishing and tourism industries, and has now reached the waters off Grenada.
“We are working hard to ensure the hydrocarbons do not get to the more sensitive southwest part of the island, where there are popular tourist beaches,” said Allan Stewart, the head of Tobago’s emergency department. He noted that while the flow of fuel from the barge has slowed considerably, the threat remains significant.
Containment booms are currently in place to hold back the spill, and crews are employing skimmers and other equipment to mop up the fuel. The barge was carrying up to 35,000 barrels of fuel oil, raising concerns about the potential environmental impact if the leak is not fully contained.
The origin of the barge has become a point of investigation. While officials have stated that the ship sailed from Panama and was bound for Guyana, monitoring services such as TankerTrackers.com and investigative news outlet Bellingcat have reported that satellite imagery shows the vessels were near Venezuela’s shore days before the spill was reported.
“Imagery discovered by Bellingcat shows that the barge began leaking oil as early as February 3, immediately after leaving Pozuelos Bay, and that it appears to have capsized by the morning of February 6,” the investigative outlet reported. Venezuela, however, has denied that the barge originated from its territory.
The spill threatens not only the marine ecosystems of the Caribbean but also the livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing and tourism. Regional authorities are collaborating to mitigate the damage and prevent the spill from affecting more islands.
The environmental crisis highlights the vulnerabilities of maritime transport and the need for stringent safety protocols to prevent such disasters. As the clean-up efforts continue, the Caribbean community watches anxiously, hoping to protect its precious natural resources from further harm.
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Trinidad government confirms fuel oil is leaking off Tobago's coast
cgtn.com
