A barge reportedly carrying approximately 8,000 barrels of waste oil at a private East Bank Demerara wharf has been brought upright and stabilised with its cargo intact, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said on Wednesday, but several questions about the vessel and its cargo remain unanswered.
The commission has not identified the barge, its owner or the owner and precise location of the wharf. It has also not disclosed where the waste oil originated, its intended destination or whether it was awaiting treatment, disposal or shipment elsewhere.
The update follows Tuesday’s mobilisation of emergency, maritime and environmental agencies after the vessel was observed listing significantly, raising concerns about a potential spill into the Demerara River.
“The vessel is now upright and stabilised with its cargo intact,” the CDC stated.
Containment booms have been deployed around the vessel as a precaution to restrict the movement of any oil, while corrective measures were taken to stabilise it, the commission said.
Authorities continue to assess and monitor the situation, with personnel and resources mobilised to support containment, recovery and environmental protection efforts.
“The CDC wishes to assure the public that the situation remains stable and under control, with coordinated response operations ongoing,” the statement added.
However, the release did not explain what caused the vessel to list, detail the corrective measures used to restore its stability or state what would happen next to the waste oil.
It also provided no information on the arrangements or authorisations governing the storage, handling and eventual movement of the cargo.
Kiskadee Watch reported on Tuesday that the vessel’s condition had prompted a coordinated response involving the CDC, Maritime Administration Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Energy Agency, Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard.
At that time, the CDC said no oil spill had been confirmed, but containment equipment and response resources had been positioned in case intervention became necessary.
Wednesday’s statement also listed the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department among the agencies participating in the response.
While reporting that the cargo remained intact, the latest statement did not provide findings from environmental assessments or specify how long monitoring and containment measures would remain in place.
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