The government of Trinidad and Tobago announced last Thursday that an oil leak from an overturned barge off the coast of Tobago has been successfully stopped. The vessel, which was carrying about 35,000 barrels of fuel, suffered the incident in early February.
Consequences of the spill caused by the capsized barge off Tobago
The spill, first detected on February 7 off Tobago’s Atlantic coast, affected the island’s mangrove areas and posed a threat to the tourism and fishing industries. In addition, the spill extended into the Caribbean Sea, which could pose risks to neighboring nations and other nearby Caribbean islands such as Bonaire.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago reported that the discharge of oil from the capsized vessel has completely stopped.
To contain the leak, the vessel compartments involved in the spill were reportedly filled with seawater above the point of leakage, thus preventing any further discharge of fuel.
The government has also contracted the services of remediation and salvage companies to handle the spill and the barge that was leaking oil.
Although details such as the volume of the spill, its origin, intended destination and ownership of the barge have not been disclosed, the country noted that the vessel transporting the fuel was accompanied by a tugboat, for which no information is currently available.
This incident underscores the critical importance of improving ocean safety and spill response measures to protect marine ecosystems and local economies from potential environmental disasters.
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Source: safety4sea.com
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