NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper said 30,000 gallons of diesel spilled in Exuma between Tuesday and Wednesday morning when a vessel contracted by Sun Oil was offloading fuel for Bahamas Power and Light.
Yesterday evening, Urban Smith, Station Diesel Mechanic at BPL, said BPL’s generation team along with Valiant Marine Salvage have already recovered some 15,000-20,000 gallons of the spilled fuel.
Smith said recovery efforts should be done by tomorrow evening and the clean-up process will begin.
Cooper and several government ministers traveled to the island as mitigation efforts continue.
“My information is that sometime last night between 5pm and 4am a vessel, The Arabian, contracted for Sun Oil was offloading fuel to BPL in the area of the Old Navy Base, in George Town, and this morning it was confirmed that there was a significant spill to the tune of 30,000 gallons,” Cooper said in the House of Assembly.
“We are advised at the moment that the oil is contained in the bay the area of the Exuma Sailing Club.
“I’ve spoken to the relevant ministers… and I am… advised that all of the agencies of government are deployed to mitigate the matter.”
Cooper said he also spoke with executives of Sun Oil, who are cooperating.
He assured Parliament that the government is working to “ensure that the matter is mitigated at best as possible in the shortest possible time.”
Sun Oil Limited said the fuel leak was first observed at 4am Wednesday morning.
Sun Oil said crew members onboard the MT Arabian, owned by D&T Shipping and contracted on behalf of Sun Oil Limited to deliver diesel fuel, discovered a leak during the discharging process.
The crew deployed absorbent pads and containment buoys near the shoreline at sunrise, and upon further assessment of the situation, according to a statement.
According to Environmental Planning and Protection Director Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, officials have in their custody the hose that was breached resulting in a fuel leak in Exuma waters.
A second boom has been installed to continue to contain the fuel, she said.
Neely-Murphy called the incident an “extreme situation”, but said it occurred in a location that makes it easier than most to contain.
Officers will return in the morning to continue the rapid assessment, she said.
