Trinidad and Tobag’so’ prime minister has said that a large oil spill near the twin-island nation has caused a national emergency and vowed that the government will spare no expense to help rehabilitate the island’s beaches.
Oil from the spill has coated numerous beaches on Tobago’s south-west coast, and the government has yet to identify the owner of the vessel that was found overturned off the coast last week. Last registration in 2012 was in Malta.
The unknown vessel has apparently drifted upside down into Tobago. That vessel, we don’t know who it belongs to. We have no idea where it came from and we also don’t know all that it contains, however it seems that a tugboat was towing the vessel.
Rowley said that the costs of the cleanup were likely to be high. This is a national emergency and therefore it will have to be funded as an extraordinary expense … You have to find the money and prioritize.
So this is priority and we have to respond, some not-so-insignificant costs are being incurred just to respond to this incident.
But he warned that cleaning and restoration can only seriously begin after we have brought the situation under control. Right now, the situation is not under control. But it appears to be under sufficient control that we think we can manage.
Divers have so far been unable to plug the leak. The leak has damaged a reef and Atlantic beaches, and residents of the village of Lambeau have been advised to wear masks or temporarily relocate.
The satellite imagery reveals a distinctive silver-like slick emanating from the overturned wrecked vessel. Additionally, there are noticeable streaks of a thick, black-like substance accompanying the spill.
Divers spotted the name “Gulfstream” on the craft’s side and have identified a length of cable, possibly indicating it was in the process of being towed.
The island’s Emergency Management Agency said there were no signs of life on the vessel, which is around 330 feet in length. The agency has posted dozens of images and videos on social media showing the ship and crews scrambling to contain and clean up the oil spill.
The ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are on top of the list, sharing the oil spill for environmental reasons. Bonaire will receive the slush first, followed by the north coasts Curacao and maybe tourist hot spot Aruba.
CBS / ABC Flash Point News 2024.
No ship tracking information?
Exactly- USA has no bother tracking Russian LPG/Oil supply vessels round the world by satellite but not this vessel ??
There is an online website that tracks vessels accessible to the public .
Must be USA owned .