FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – A “dramatic” increase in oil contaminated Grand Bahama waterways has prompted the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) in Freeport to appeal for adherence to fueling and disposal regulations.
“The Department of Environmental Health has continued with its program of monitoring levels of man-made contamination in the canals of Grand Bahama and we have determined that we need to apprise the public of the trends that have disturbed us,” Public Analyst Mike Wallace noted in a press statement.
Last month, a significant increase in the amount of recreational and work boats berthed at canals or marinas were observed. This increase, according to Mr. Wallace, coincides with an increase in incidents of oil slicks.
In the month of April, eleven oil spills were reported, and within the first week of May, the DEHS has responded to three oil spills in waterways on Grand Bahama. The most serious of contamination incidents in April occurred at West Grand Bahama’s Old Bahama Bay Marina, where a 105 ft. vessel, the “Moonstruck”, was engulfed in flames on April 3.
This fire resulted in approximately 2000 gallons of diesel being discharged into the marina, an incident the Port Department assures was effectively managed.
“This spill was completely contained in a timely fashion,” Deputy Controller of the Port Department Mr. Benjamin Ferguson told the Bahama Journal. “The cleanup exercise lasted over a three day period, and occurred with the assistance of the Bahamas Oil Refinery Company (BORCO).”
Last month’s occurrence on board the Moonstruck whose captain, according to police officials, was not on the island at the time of the incident, took place as the DEHS also observed an increase in the amount of large vessels being berthed at remote locations for extended periods of time.
These vessels are said by the DEHS to have had no means of sanitation other than on-board provisions, with no means of waste disposal other than into surrounding waters.
The Port Department’s Deputy Controller noted that by law, large vessels wherein its occupants reside for periods of time are to be equipped with waste holding tanks.
“Our waterways are frequented by vessels carrying tourists, and these vessels cannot even be permitted to enter the port, unless these tanks are in place,” he added.
Discharges of petroleum products and waste into waterways can result in lasting damage to marine life, and render waters less than sanitary for bathers. Many residents on Grand Bahama reside on canal-front properties and use sea water to replenish pools and aquaria.
According to the DEHS, fire hazards to residents on these properties also exist when petroleum products are discharged into canals and other waterways.
While most of the spills in April and May had been contained, Public Analyst Mike Wallace noted that others were unable to be managed. Several cases of marine contamination caused by petroleum spills occurred in areas where the DEHS was unable to gain sufficient access for cleanup purposes.
In most of these cases, the petroleum spills had spread, with fueling exercises at water’s edge also contributing to the growing number of contamination cases in Grand Bahama’s waterways.
“In all of these cases, we have not seen any death of marine organisms, though we have noted dark stains on surrounding walls,” Mr. Wallace noted.
The waterways in Grand Bahama are policed by both the DEHS and the Port Department, with overall canal maintenance being the responsibility of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
According to Mr. Ferguson, a cooperative relationship between the three entities exists so as to ensure that they, along with the additional response agencies, manage contamination spills expeditiously.
The DEHS is calling on all boaters to seek land based means of waste disposal and fueling exercises, to cease from the practice of petroleum disposal into waterways and to establish standards of waterway usage which will work to the benefit of all residents.
By Sharon Williams, The Bahama Journal
