The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

AFTER three failed attempts to refloat the 39-ton fuel tanker grounded off the coast of Grand Bahama for more than a week, officials avoided a “catastrophe” – successfully lightening the vessel and moving it to deeper waters without any spills.

The M/T Formosa Falcon, a Liberian registered vessel and 39,307 gross tons in size, ran aground on September 26 near Freeport. It was fully laden with more than 70 tons of dead weight –  of which more than 54 tons was alkylate, a chemical additive to fuel.

Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said there were three failed attempts to move the grounded vessel before it was decided the vessel would have to be lightered – lessened of its fuel and allowed to refloat.

“For several days, the owners indicated they could not find an appropriate vessel that would meet the requirements of size, etcetera, to lighter that vessel,” Mrs Hanna-Martin said. “Finally a vessel was discovered in New York. It took two and a half days to get here.”

During that time there was “continuous monitoring,” the Minister said, including tug vessels holding fast to the M/T Formosa Falcon, monitoring of the weather and the indicators on the vessel, as well as measurements of fuel to ensure none had leaked.

“On October 4, the day before this vessel which was called the Algarve arrived in the Bahamas (from New York), an emergency operation centre was established in Grand Bahama,” Ms Hanna-Martin continued, explaining this centre was established by NEMA and the National Oil Spill Committee.

The Ministry of the Environment, the BES Commission, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the Port Department, the Meteorological Department, and the Defence Force also joined, she said.

“On the fifth of October, the transfer of fuel began to take place,” Mrs Hanna-Martin said. “This was a particularly sensitive issue for us, because in normal lightering exercises, these sort of conditions would not exist. Those conditions being the vessel was close to shore and in basically shallow water. These were indicators that caused significant concern.

“Ultimately, 8,000 tons plus were lightered from the vessel. The vessel was refloated (and) moved to deeper water with the assistance of a tug. There was a survey of the vessel’s hull and under surface – some defects were discovered, but there were no ruptures.”

Brent Williamson of the National Oil Spill Committee said “there was a need to exercise due diligence” in the entire exercise, to avoid a potential “catastrophe” of a spill.

“Patience and planning was critical,” he said. “There were three attempts to refloat it, they all failed. The prudent and reasonable thing to do was to lighter the vessel.

“Sometimes when we take actions that are abrupt, they can cause more harm than good. For example, if we had taken the initiative and used more horsepower, say, in tug – it could have resulted in the rupture of the hull. We could have had a catastrophe on our hands.”

Mr Williamson also noted the M/T Formosa Falcon is currently floating off the coast of Grand Bahama, awaiting further instructions.

Mrs Hanna-Martin stressed there has been “no emission” of fuel into the waters.

And as for cost, she said: “All of the expenses associated with this exercise are to be recouped from the owners of this vessel – all. We’ve already begun that process through the Attorney General’s office and we are beginning to put our numbers together.

“I don’t have the exact figure, but whatever the figure is, we expect, the expectation is, and we believe the quiet agreement is that the owners will indemnify the government for all expenses incurred as a result of our readying ourselves with respect to this matter.”

Mrs Hanna-Martin also said a survey of the seabed has been undertaken and the report on any damage to that area was expected yesterday.

Also speaking yesterday on behalf of their respective agencies were Port Controller Captain Patrick McNeil, Trevor Basden of the Meteorological Department, Dwayne Curtis of the Department of Environmental Health Services, and Captain Stephen Russell of NEMA.