According to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the discharge of hydrocarbons from the overturned vessel near Cove, Tobago, has stopped, as confirmed by an underwater survey carried out by T&T Salvage/QT Environmental.
The oil leak was caused by the capsizing of a barge carrying up to 35,000 barrels of fuel oil in early February off the Caribbean island of Tobago.
The team from T&T Salvage/QT Environmental reported that the compartments of the vessel responsible for the hydrocarbon leakage are now filled with seawater above the leak point, effectively halting the flow of hydrocarbons. The team is currently formulating a plan to assess the remaining product onboard and to facilitate its removal.
To enhance the hydrocarbon recovery efforts, two additional NOFI Current Busters and a Rapid Deployment Skimming System (RDSS) have been deployed. The RDSS retrieves concentrated hydrocarbons from the fluid collected using the NOFI Current Buster, thus improving the efficiency of hydrocarbon recovery by minimizing waste handling associated with seawater.
Furthermore, regular aerial surveys of the response operation are being conducted in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard to provide valuable insights into the on-water recovery of oil.
The technical team at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) continues to actively collaborate with T&T Salvage, QT Environmental, the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Occupational Safety and Health Authority and Agency (OSHA), Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, and other stakeholders to advance containment and salvage strategies.
