Some of the 30,000 gallons of fuel spilled by a vessel named The Arabian is caught on the shore of Great Exuma near Old Navy Base in George Town, Bahamas
NASSAU, July 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A vessel delivering fuel to The Bahamas resort island of Great Exuma spilled around 30,000 gallons between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the country’s acting prime minister told parliament on Wednesday.
“I am … advised that all of the agencies of government are deployed to mitigate the matter,” said Chester Cooper, who also represents the district of Exuma in parliament.
“We are happy that it is contained or appears to be contained,” he said.
Exuma is famed for its white sand beaches and crystal-blue waters, as well as beaches where tourists can swim with pigs.
It was not immediately evident what the environmental impact the spill had.
Cooper said the fuel was being delivered by a vessel called the Arabian, and that the fuel had been contracted by a Bahamas company called Sun Oil. Executives from Sun Oil were cooperating in efforts to mitigate the spill, Cooper said.
Bahamas-based Sun Oil said in a statement that crew members on board a vessel called the MT Arabian discovered a leak at 4:00 a.m. while discharging the fuel, adding that the crew later deployed absorbent pads and containment buoys.
“Fuel recovery procedures remain ongoing, led by owners of the MT Arabian,” Sun Oil said, adding that its leadership team had traveled to Exuma to help respond to the situation. — NNN-AGENCIES
