THE MYSTERY surrounding the oil spill in Tobago deepened on February 14 when it was revealed that the Gulfstream, which was found overturned in the sea 200 metres off the coast of the Cove Industrial Park on February 7, was one of two vessels involved in the incident.
But the whereabouts of the other vessel – a tugboat identified as Solo Creed – remains unknown.
In a release, the Ministry of National Security said video footage and other information obtained by the TT Coast Guard confirmed that the two vessels were a tugboat and a barge.
It added the Coast Guard is collaborating with other local and regional agencies, including Caricom Impacs, the Guyana Coast Guard, the Maritime Services Division and IR Consilium, through a consultant, to identify the vessels and their owners.
The ministry said investigations so far have revealed that the vessels appear to have been bound for Guyana.
However, the Guyanese authorities have confirmed that “neither vessel arrived as anticipated.”
The Coast Guard, the release said, also confirmed that the barge was being towed by the Solo Creed from Panama to Guyana. Satellite imagery shows the Solo Creed towing an object on February 4, it added.
The ministry said the National Coastal Surveillance Radar Centre (NCSRC) used this information to track the tug in TT waters, towing an object. But the NCSRC eventually lost radar contact with both vessels.
The Coast Guard said it is examining video footage supplied by its Guyana counterparts of the barge, as it appeared to be sinking. The Coast Guard also confirmed that neither the tug nor the barge had entered Guyana waters.
The ministry said as part of the investigation, Caricom IMPACS contacted the authorities in Panama and Aruba for photographs of the tugboat and the barge.
It said the Dutch authorities in Aruba provided images of the tug towing the barge and these images were used to confirm the identity of both vessels.
The ministry quoted line minister Fitzgerald Hinds as saying he appreciated the support provided by both agencies.
“We have been working very closely with the Guyana Coast Guard on this critical matter and we appreciate their full-scale support. Similarly, I am appreciative of Caricom Impacs and the work and support of our international partners in this matter.
“As minister, I give the assurance that the Coast Guard will continue to work with other local and regional authorities in this investigation and we look forward to a swift and successful resolution to all our benefit.”
Chief Secretary: Pay for this mess
But speaking at a news conference hours after the ministry’s release, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the statement raises more questions than answers.
He also demanded that those responsible for the oil spill in Tobago “come clean.
[caption id="attachment_1063882" align="alignnone" width="1024"] PAY FOR THIS MESS: Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is calling on the owners of a barge which overturned and has been leaking oil in Tobago's waters to come forward and pay f
