MV Gulfstream

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MV Gulfstream is a capsized unpowered 449-foot (137 m) 60,000 bbl (9,500 m3) double-hulled barge, part of an articulated tug and barge system, without a registration number. The vessel capsized on 7 February 2024 and was abandoned by the crew. It caused a huge spillage of oil in the Caribbean Sea.[1]

History[edit]

In February 2024, the barge, carrying an estimated 35,000 barrels of fuel oil, capsized after running aground on a reef some 150 metres (490 ft) off the south coast of Tobago.[2][3] The circumstances of the capsizing are not yet clear.[4] The oil spill has spread to Grenada and could potentially affect Venezuela.[5]

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago confirmed the situation and considered declaring a national emergency.[6] It has reportedly affected the fishing and tourism industries.[7] The National Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) said that the oil spill had affected around 15 kilometres (9 miles) of the coastline.[8] Emergency workers were sent to run a major clean up operation.[9] Authorities are attempting to pinpoint the ship's origin.[10]

Farley Augustine, the Chief Secretary of Tobago, said: 'We need those responsible to come clean and we need those responsible to know that they have to pay for this mess, that they are culpable as part of this mess'.[11]

This reportedly threatens an environmental catastrophe.[12] According to Bellingcat, the barge may have started leaking oil on 7 February.[1] The identity and whereabouts of the tug that was hauling the barge are not yet known.[2] By 28 February, oil began to wash ashore on Bonaire in the Leeward Antilles.[13] These beaches are hundreds of miles away from where the ship capsized.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Williams, Logan (2024-02-14). "Identifying the Mystery Vessel at the Site of Trinidad & Tobago's National Emergency Oil Spill". bellingcat. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  2. ^ a b "Oil spill spreads across Caribbean from Tobago to Bonaire". BBC News. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  3. ^ "Trinidad government confirms fuel oil is leaking off Tobago's coast". Reuters. February 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Oil spill spreads across Caribbean to Bonaire". BBC News. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  5. ^ Staff (2024-02-15). "Tobago oil spill spreads to Grenada waters and could affect Venezuela". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  6. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago hit by mystery ship oil spill". BBC News. 2024-02-11. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  7. ^ Williams, Curtis (February 16, 2024). "Tobago's tourism, fishing hit as oil slick spreads across Caribbean". Reuters.
  8. ^ Rios, Michael; Alvarado, Abel (2024-02-12). "Trinidad and Tobago declares 'national emergency' as oil spill from mystery vessel pollutes beaches". CNN. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  9. ^ "Photos: Mystery shipwreck causes disastrous oil spill off Trinidad". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  10. ^ "Mystery ship, contents identified: Tobago battles spill". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  11. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago: overturned barge leaks oil into Caribbean Sea – video report". the Guardian. 2024-02-15. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  12. ^ Helmore, Edward (2024-02-12). "Trinidad & Tobago says oil spill from mystery vessel is national emergency". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  13. ^ "Olie aangespoeld op de kust van Bonaire, zorgen om milieuschade". nos.nl (in Dutch). 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  14. ^ "Oil spill from capsized barge near Tobago has reached beaches hundreds of miles away, officials say". ABC News. February 28, 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
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