safety steps

Montserrat National Oil Spill Response Team Deployed To Contain Any Potential Oil Pollution From A Vessel That Ran Aground On The Northern Side Of The Little Bay Jetty On Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Members of the Montserrat National Oil Spill Response team have been deployed to contain any potential oil pollution from a vessel that ran aground on the northern side of the Little Bay Jetty on Tuesday, 13 August 2024, due to the passage of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Today’s exercise, led by Senior Disaster Management Coordinator Astrid Wade of the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA), involved deploying double containment booms on the northern side of the jetty and single containment booms on the southern side to contain any possible oil pollution.

Containment booms are floating devices designed to create a barrier that limits the spread of oil on the water’s surface, making it easier to remove with skimmer machines.

The response operation was further supported by Meridian Construction Company Limited, which is currently constructing the new Port Facility in Little Bay, through the provision of equipment.

Marine Unit officers were dispatched to the vessel to conduct an assessment, after which a fuel tank with a capacity of 250 litres of diesel was safely removed from the deck.

Local fishers also participated in the response exercise. Response and salvage operations will continue tomorrow.