PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC—The Trinidad and Tobago government said Tuesday that late Monday night, the efforts to refloat the vessel that overturned off the Coast of Cove in Tobago had been successfully completed.
“Following significant groundwork and preparations, the refloat operations commenced yesterday at 5:50 P.M. and was completed by 11:54 P.M,” the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries said in a statement.
It said that the refloat operations were conducted under the supervision of a team from T & T Salvage Inc., an internationally recognized salvage company.
“The team comprised of a senior salvage master, naval architect, and a contingent of skilled salvors with the support of the technical staff at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries,” it added.
In March, the government said the oil leak from a barge carrying up to 35,000 barrels of fuel oil capsized in early February had stopped.
The spill, first spotted off Tobago’s Atlantic coast on February 7, damaged some of the island’s mangroves and threatened its tourism and fishing sector. It also entered the Caribbean Sea, threatening nearby Venezuela and Caribbean islands, including Bonaire.
In the statement, the ministry said that the Gulfstream barge is currently stationed approximately three nautical miles away from its original resting place and is now an afloat holding station in waters 60 meters deep off the coast of Cove, secured and supported by tugs.
It said that the temporary facility at the Cove site has now been decommissioned and that “ activities will now focus on conducting an underwater survey by the dive team utilizing Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) certified divers.
“This survey is required to assess the areas of the previously inaccessible barge areas and remove any hanging debris that would impact towing operations.”.
The statement said that after the dive survey is completed, the barge will be cleared for the transit/tow phase of operations.
“The Gulfstream casualty, which remains in an overturned state, will be towed by two support tugs provided by the National Energy Corporation and a contingent of other vessels. This journey from Cove, Tobago to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad is estimated to be 33 hours long.”
The authorities said that as a contingency during its transit to Port-of-Spain, the Gulfstream will be escorted by NOFI Current Busters and QT Environmental pollution response crews, trained in recovering oil from the sea surface.
“The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has led operations and managed the overall response. Regular updates will be provided as the refloat and tow phase progresses by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries,” the statement added.
The ministry did not disclose the financial aspect of the operation. Still, in May this year, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Trinidad and Tobago expects to receive “a significant sum” in compensation for the ongoing oil spill clean-up in Tobago.
Rowley said that the oil spill had occurred because of the activities of “people who did not want others to know that they were involved in what was happening there.
The ocean is a very big place, and a lot of things go on there, and that’s why there is an international body that exists to come to a country’s aid if you find yourself being damaged by an oil spill of that nature or similar nature.”
Rowley did not name the international agency, but Energy and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young said Port of Spain had made representations to the United Kingdom-based International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF) for compensation ranging from US$14 million to US$20 million.
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