IMA: No evidence of oil along south-western shoreline

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) arranged a joint response with agencies for the suspected source of the oil pollution at La Brea. This was done with personnel from agencies of the IMA, EMA, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs, and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG).

The IMA reported that no oil was observed at the shoreline at Pt. Sable, Carat Shed, Coffee and Station Beaches with the exception of the mangrove area at Coffee Beach.

Trace amounts of “oil clumps or pellets” were observed at this location and sampled, and three water samples were collected at the sites to determine the amount of dissolved hydrocarbons (DDPH), and one oil sample at Coffee Beach for the purpose of oil fingerprinting.

The report stated that there was no visible oil sheen in the marine waters of these beaches at the time of observation. Six samples of oil were provided by the EMA for oil fingerprinting. These samples were collected by the EMA on January 28 and 29, 2017, at La Brea and Fullarton locations.

It was reported that a barge named “Transporter 1”, which sank last year at La Brea, was a suspected source of the oil spill.

Investigations indicated that a team of workmen employed by a private marine contractor service was engaged in repairing the sunken vessel.

However, no oil was observed at the time of the investigation in the marine waters, and no oil could be sampled from the sunken vessel.

The IMA also investigated the areas of Fullarton, Columbus and Vessigny on January 31, however no oil was observed.

Trace amounts of an oil-like material was seen at Columbus Bay and was sampled to identify whether it was petroleum.

The sample of oil from the sunken vessel remained a possible source of the oil spill, but sampling the oil would require a diver. The EMA was now consulting with the owner of the sunken vessel to arrange for the collection of oil samples.