Gulfstream successfully towed to Trinidad

The Gulfstream barge has been successfully towed to Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The barge, which remains in an overturned state, was towed by two tugs provided by the National Energy Corporation and an additional support vessel.

In a statement on August 22, the Energy Ministry said the journey from Cove, Tobago to Sea Lots, Port of Spain, took approximately 30 hours and was conducted under the direction of technical experts from TT Salvage LLC and QT Environmental.

"As a contingency, the overturned barge was escorted by a 'Pollution Task Force' consisting of local responders and crews attached to QT Environmental.

"Throughout the journey, the task force remained in a response-ready posture equipped with NOFI Current Buster Systems and Rapid Deployment Skimmer Systems (RDSS) to facilitate the immediate capture and recovery of any residual hydrocarbons," the ministry said.

The transit of the barge progressed smoothly and on schedule, the ministry noted on Thursday.

"ADCI-certified divers completed survey assessments of the barge at 5.25 pm Wednesday, off Chacachacare, Trinidad. The results of this survey provided the assurance needed for the vessel to enter the Sea Lots channel. The last stage of the journey to Sea Lots, Port of Spain, was completed at 6.43 am today," the ministry said, adding weather conditions coupled with high and low tides were two of the principal factors governing the timing and execution of the re-float and tow exercise.

The last phase of operations will be to prepare the barge for storage by technical experts.

Once completed, the Gulfstream will be officially handed over to the director of Maritime Services, also known as the "principal receiver of wrecks," attached to the Maritime Services Division of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

The principal receiver of wrecks is empowered under the Shipping Act to exercise general direction and supervision over all matters relating to wrecks and salvage.

The Energy Ministry said the handover would represent the completion of the scope of operations handled by the ministry and its international partners TT Salvage and QT Environmental.

The ministry also acknowledged the support of its partners and stakeholders in its containment and disposal efforts over the last six months.