Tobago Correspondent
After hours of searching for any possible life onboard an unidentified sunken vessel off the coast of Cove in Tobago yesterday, divers confirmed there was no one onboard.
The search and rescue operation was led by the T&T Coast Guard and other agencies.
Alvin Douglas, the lead of the dive team from Tobago Marine Safety and Security Services Ltd, said it took an hour to check for possible survivors.
Another diver told Guardian Media that the preliminary assessment of the wreckage suggests the vessel may have been abandoned and left to sink.
The THA, Tobago Emergency Management Agency and Coast Guard are expected to have the full assessment report by this morning.
Last night, just after the completion of the assessment of the wreckage, Douglas said, “The boat has dragged on the bottom and done a lot of damage to the reef formation. We couldn’t get the particulars of the vessel because it is grounded in a hazardous area. There is a large debris field, which suggests that the boat was coming from a southernly direction and came into contact with the reef.”
He confirmed that it is a cargo vessel and that its upper structure was ripped off from the hull. He said the team plans to follow the debris one more time to see if they find any crew members who may have gone down in the superstructure where the living quarters are usually located.
Up until 5 pm, it was unclear when the vessel sunk but it was spotted just after 7 pm Tuesday. In addition to the rescue operation, the THA was also battling a severe oil spill in the water, caused by the vessel, which has reached the shore and roadside in some areas.
TEMA members, as well as other first responders, were in meetings as early as 9 am to discuss clean-up efforts.
At Cove, the shoreline was covered in a blanket of oil. When Guardian Media visited the area, the pungent smell of oil was overwhelming and could be detected miles away from the Claude Noel Highway.
In an emergency media conference yesterday afternoon, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said it was difficult to determine the extent of the spill at this time. He outlined three focuses, which included the rescues. He added that the THA was also focused on whether or not, “there was anything of significance or importance trapped on the vessel”.
“We need to discover the actual name of the vessel so that we can identify the owner and the jurisdiction under which the vessel is licensed. Then we can assign blame,” he said.
Until the situation is under control, Augustine called on the public and fishermen to stay away from the area. Augustine emphasised, “Don’t go and throw your line around the area of the oil spill to catch any fish.”
However, TEMA director Allan Stewart said the type of vessel will reveal how much oil was spilled. He said because there was no distress call, he doesn’t believe there was anyone onboard.
“It points to the certainty of knowing that there are no souls on board. If there were, it is possible that there is a hollow part with an air pocket that could allow for life.”
The oil spill has affected Lambeau, Canoe Bay Beach, Scarborough Beach, the coastline at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, and the Scarborough Port. TEMA confirmed sightings of what seemed to be oil from the wreckage reaching the east of the island at Roxborough up to Belle Garden just before 5 pm.
Meanwhile, All-Tobago Fisherfolk Association president Curtis Douglas urged the public not to purchase fish until the situation is under control.
Douglas said, “I am calling on the relevant authorities to please act speedily and hastily to ensure that we preserve some form of life. So, the fishermen would need help because I wouldn’t advise them to go out, catch bait, or fish in that vicinity.”
The THA will hold compensation talks for the fisherfolk after identifying and engaging the owners of the vessel.
