The Tribune

THE MV Eugenia oil spill off Grand Bahama has made a “small impact” on a beach, it was confirmed yesterday, but the tar deposits were cleaned up immediately according to the Ministry of Transport.

Issuing the latest in its series of updates yesterday, the ministry said several agencies have conducted multiple aerial assessments of the site and surrounding areas since the spill and to date there is no evidence of environmental contamination at the port of Freeport or surrounding coastlines.

The agencies involved are the National Oil Spill Committee, the United States Coast Guard, the International Tanker Owner Federation (ITOPF) and oil spill responders.

The last aerial surveillance involving the Ministry of Transport took place on Friday, December 7.

The ministry’s statement said: “Our continued monitoring of this situation did discover a small amount of tar balls on coral beach which was immediately cleaned up.

“This discovery represents minimal environmental impact thus far and a joint team from the Port Department and the Department of Environmental Health Services remain in place to continue to monitor the area.”

As for the damaged vessel, it was “safely shifted without incident” from its present berth at the Freeport Container Port to the Grand Bahama Shipyard where repairs will be conducted.

The ministry said its berth at the Container Port is presently being prepared for a return full operational service.

“As previously stated an active investigation is underway and periodic updates will be provided as circumstances warrant until the completion of this investigation,” the ministry said.