[UPDATED] Coast Guard: No one injured during attack on wreck of Gulfstream

NEITHER the police service nor the National Security Ministry could provide updates on the investigation into an incident in which Coast Guard officers exchanged gunfire with intruders on a vessel in the Sea Lots area on August 23.

The Coast Guard and the Defence Force confirmed that the police would take the lead in ongoing investigations.

The vessel was a support vessel for the wreck of the Gulfstream, which sank off Cove, Tobago, on February 7, causing an oil spill there, and was then refloated on August 20 and taken to Sea Lots, Port of Spain, on August 22.

The Coast Guard has said none of its members were injured during an exchange of gunfire with intruders on the vessel. This contradicts an earlier release sent out by the Energy and Energy Industries Ministry (MEEI), which said a response team member was injured.

Newsday asked the MEEI to clarify who was injured in the incident, but no response was available up to press time.

In a release on August 25, the Coast Guard said while officers were on security duty onboard a vessel in the Sea Lots area on the night of August 23, they saw intruders boarding it.

It said when confronted, the intruders briefly exchanged gunfire with officers, then fled.

The Coast Guard said it was continuing to assist police investigations. This was confirmed on Monday by Coast Guard officers and the army.

On August 24, the Energy and Energy Industries Ministry said unidentified raiders had tried to board a support vessel near the wreck of the Gulfstream at Sea Lots.

It said Coast Guard officers were on site and intervened. The ministry said there was an exchange of gunfire, and one member of the response crew suffered a non-life-threatening injury and was receiving medical attention.

Once the Gulfstream has been prepared for storage, it will then be handed over to the Director of Maritime Services, also known as the "principal receiver of wrecks," of the Maritime Services Division of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE Coast Guard has said none of its members were injured during an exchange of gunfire with intruders on a vessel in the Sea Lots area on August 23. This contradicts an earlier release sent out by the Energy and Energy Industries Ministry, which said a response team member was injured.

The vessel was a support vessel for the wreck of the Gulfstream, which sank off Cove, Tobago, on February 7, causing an oil spill there, was refloated on August 20 and taken to Sea Lots, Port of Spain, on August 22.

In a release on August 25, the Coast Guard said while officers were on security duty
onboard a vessel in the Sea Lots area on the night of August 23, they saw intruders boarding it.

It said when confronted, the intruders briefly exchanged gunfire with officers, then fled.

The Coast Guard said it was continuing to assist police investigations.

On August 24, the Energy and Energy Industries Ministry said unidentified raiders had tried to board a support vessel located near the wreck of the Gulfstream at Sea Lots.

It said Coast Guard officers were on site and intervened. The ministry said there was an exchange of gunfire, and one member of the response crew suffered
a non-life-threatening injury and was receiving medical attention.