Trinidad and Tobago Grapples with Enigmatic Ship Oil Spill

Trinidad and Tobago is contemplating the declaration of a national emergency following a significant oil spill resulting from a ship running aground and overturning earlier this week.

Approximately 15km (nine miles) of Tobago’s south-western coastline, including some of the Caribbean island’s pristine beaches, has been adversely impacted by the spill.

Over 1,000 volunteers have mobilized alongside government personnel to undertake the cleanup efforts.

Divers are currently engaged in efforts to contain the leak from the vessel, which was abandoned by its crew.

Farley Augustine, the chief secretary of Tobago, indicated on Saturday that the government might classify the incident as a Level 3 disaster, the highest level.

He stated, “All signs point to us heading in that direction,” as reported by the AFP news agency.

Presently, the spill is classified as Level 2, signifying that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management believes the country has the capacity to manage the situation.

A national emergency is typically declared when local resources are overwhelmed, necessitating international assistance.

The vessel, identified only as The Gulfstream, capsized last Wednesday off the coast of the Cove Eco-Industrial Estate, with no emergency calls made.

The incident occurred just before Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival celebrations, a crucial source of income for the nation’s economy.