The oil spill from a capsized vessel was first spotted by Trinidad and Tobago’s Coast Guard on Feb. 7 and oil is still leaking, according to authorities. It has blackened Tobago’s coastline, reached Bonaire and is also threatening to reach Grenada.

Published 10 months ago, updated 9 months ago

Update: Posted 26 February, 2024

Reuters report that that oil from the Tobago spill has reached parts of Bonaire’s east coast, including Sorobon, Lac and Lagun, threatening vulnerable mangrove, fish and coral ecosystems.

Update: Posted 16 February, 2024

Reuters report that satellite images and models suggest that waves might be taking some of the spill into the Caribbean Sea past northern Venezuela, increasing the risk that the oil impacts other beaches in Trinidad and Tobago that have coral reefs, and even other countries’ coasts, Grenada in particular.

Trinidad’s Coast Guard found that at least two vessels allegedly bound for Guyana – a tugboat and a barge – were involved in an incident that led to the spill, the National Security Ministry said in a press release. Therefore it appears that the capsized tanker/ship, is in fact a barge, which was being towed by a tug, the Solo Creed from Panama, reports the Ministry. It remains unknown whether any lives were lost in the incident. Authorities in Panama, Aruba and Guyana have been contacted by Trinidad and regional group Caricom to gather information as part of the investigation.

The leak has still not been plugged.

First News: Posted Monday 12 February, 2024

At 7:20 AM Wednesday, February 7th, 2024, the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) received a report of a capsized ship approximately 150 to 200 meters south of Cove, Tobago, with a thick, oil-like substance washing up on nearby coastlines and spreading across Tobago’s windward coastal waters.

It is still unclear where and how the ship overturned and whether there were any crew on board at the time of capsizing. The North Post Radio did not receive distress calls from the vessel.

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) engaged local certified divers to conduct an investigation/rescue/recovery effort. They discovered the 330-foot (100-meter) vessel is called “Gulfstream” and there were no visible signs of human life or remains.

Nearly 45 kilometers of combined coastline and near-shore marine areas, spanning from south of Belle Garden to the southern end of Crown Point, have recorded the oil-like substance from Gulfstream.  From Wednesday morning, the oil-like substance began washing up at Canoe Bay, extending to the Port of Scarborough. Moderate to strong southwesterly to southeasterly winds on February 7th pushed a 12 to 15-kilometer-length area of oil towards Scarborough and areas further north.

Since Saturday, the prevailing winds have been mostly easterly, resulting in the oil-like substance, which continues to freely flow into the ocean, now moving to the west, toward Crown Point.

Attempts to plug the leak have not yet been succesful and the race is on to try and contain the oil spill.

The more formal clean-up plan began on Thursday morning, with co-operation from a number of agencies. A call for volunteers was put out on Saturday night by TEMA. Efforts are being made to clean affected areas through manual removal of oil-soaked sargassum peat moss, and booms that both control and absorb the oil-like substance. Booms were deployed Friday night into Saturday to cordon off the Port of Scarborough to ensure the harbour and docking area remains free from the oil-like substance with additional booms deployed near the Gulfstream vessel to control the movement of pollution.

Indications are that international aid will be requested.

Tobago’s economy is highly dependent on tourism, and its fisheries play a substantial part in the overall food security – both of which are now significantly affected.

Volunteers are needed for the coastal clean-up campaign: meet daily at 08:00 at Scarborough Esplanade Rotunda, contact (868) 310 5606.

Cruisers can contact SSCA host Jesse James in Trinidad on WhatsApp +1 (868) 683-5202 if they wish to get involved.

Related News Links:

Tobago Oil Spill what you need to know (Trinidad and Tobago Weather Center)

Tobago Oil Spill Disaster Worsens (Trinidad Guardian)

https://www.facebook.com/TEMAEOC (Tobago Emergency Management Agency)

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