The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) advises that operations regarding the de-inventory of hydrocarbons from the capsized vessel off the coast of Cove, Tobago are approved and ready to commence.
Over the last two weeks, T&T Salvage and QT Environmental under the guidance of the MEEI worked hand-in-hand with local contractors and stakeholders to prepare both the topside of the wreck and to establish a temporary storage facility at the shoreside of Cove, Tobago.
The de-inventory process will involve the pumping of hydrocarbons from the cargo tanks on the vessel to a temporary storage location at Cove, Tobago. Tanker trucks will then be used to transport the hydrocarbons from the temporary storage location to the Port of Scarborough where the hydrocarbons will be transferred to a bunkering vessel. Once the vessel is filled with hydrocarbons, it will then journey to Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad where the hydrocarbons will be offloaded and stored in a storage tank.
The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has engaged with all stakeholders regarding the execution of this exercise including the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Occupational Health and Safety Department attached to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Maritime Services Division (MSD), the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services (TTFS), Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries wishes to thank all stakeholders involved in these operations and appreciates the public’s co-operation during this phase of operations.
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