The Nassau Guardian
Tanker runs aground
A fuel tanker ran aground off the coast of Grand Bahama Thursday afternoon, however there was no evidence that the vessel spilled any of the fuel it is carrying, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transport and Aviation yesterday.
The incident happened at around 2:30 p.m. when the Motor Tanker-Formosa Falcon, a 39,307 ton vessel ran aground. The statement said the fuel tanker was carrying 12,796 tons of alkylate.
“Reports are that the vessel was altering her position at Freeport anchorage due to her proximity to another vessel,” the ministry’s statement said. “Whilst altering its position, the vessel’s captain reported that westerly winds of 15 knots forced the vessel aground.”
“There is no evidence of emission of this product into the waters and the hull is reported intact.”
The ministry said an inspector from the Port Department, staff from the Freeport Harbour Company and the agents for the vessel were sent to inspect the ship, which was grounded at the bow (front).
Yesterday, marine experts tried to refloat the ship using tugboats but were unsuccessful.
The statement said a team will try to refloat the vessel today.
The Ministry of Transport and Aviation said it has been in contact with representatives of the ship's owners to ensure that prompt and appropriate actions are taken and that an assessment is carried out.
The statement said that the National Oil Spill Advisory Committee has been placed on alert and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Port Department will conduct a full investigation into the incident.
Earlier this year, ministry officials dealt with several oil spills off of Grand Bahama.
In late March, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation reported an oil spill on Grand Bahama, in the same area that an oil spill occurred in February.
The Bahamas Oil Refining Company (BORCO) reported the spill on March 22 around 6 p.m. in waters near Pinder’s Point in Freeport.
On February 15, BORCO reported an oil spill from a pipeline containing oily residue in the vicinity of Pinder’s Point, Grand Bahama. In that incident, it was unclear how much fuel spilled.
It was the second spill reported for the year at BORCO. The first occurred on January 20, when 210 gallons of diesel fuel spilled in waters off Grand Bahama while a ship was being refueled at BORCO.
No comments:
Post a Comment