On Wednesday, the government appeared to have cleared up some of the ambiguity. The vessel, which was reported on February 7, was a ship The capsized barge was towed by the tug Solo Creed from Panama in Central America to Guyana in South America.Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of National Security said. The ministry said Guyanese authorities confirmed that the flight never arrived in Guyana.
The oil was initially spotted four miles north of the barge near the town of Scarborough in Tobagonia. More recent satellite images released by the Tobago Emergency Management Agency show the contamination much farther away — about 48 miles west of the island.
As cleanup efforts continue around the clock, it remains unclear how much oil spilled and how much remained in the largely submerged barge. The reason for its coup is not yet known.
His appearance has inspired investigation and speculation about his identity and provenance. Users on the websites of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, a non-profit environmental organization based in Port of Spain, Trinidad, marinetraffic.com and shipspotting.com, suggested it could be the Gulfstream, a 561-foot oil products tanker built by South. Hanjin Heavy Industries, Korea, 1975.
But Gulfstream has been used for several ships, at least one of which crashed, and other users have disputed its identification.
Divers approached the ship, but it was moving and swaying in shallow water, disrupting the water and impeding a thorough inspection.
Approximately 480 feet
From the beach
Aerial photo source:
Office of the Chief Secretary – Tobago House of Assembly
Approximately 480 feet
From the beach
Aerial photo source:
Office of the Chief Secretary – Tobago House of Assembly
Approximately 480 feet
From the beach
Aerial photo source: Office of the Chief Secretary – Tobago House of Assembly
Approximately 480 feet
From the beach
Aerial photo source: Office of the Chief Secretary – Tobago House of Assembly
Trinidad and Tobago has long experience with spills. The nation is the largest oil producer in the Caribbean. According to the World Bank, the oil and petrochemical industry generates more than a third of its gross domestic product.
Prime Minister Keith Rowley declared a national emergency. He told reporters on Sunday that workers were deploying booms to contain the spill, clean beaches and protect wildlife.
Heavy equipment was shipped from Grand Island of Trinidad to assist.
Rowley said it was fortunate that the ship capsized in a sparsely populated area. Had the spill been farther north or west, it could have gone around Tobago's tip at Crown Point and contaminated the island's west coast, which is home to many resorts and tourist attractions.
Sources: Tobago Emergency Management Agency, TEMA GIS Specialist Dayron Mitchell, Office of the Chief Secretary, Anglers and Friends of the Sea.
