ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – An estimated 20 to 30 litres of diesel spilled into the sea from a vessel in Statia waters on Friday, September 11.
The Statia Government said its crisis management team was notified, along with Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) and maritime personnel at GTI. Tug vessels used propeller wash to help disperse the diesel on the water surface. Because of the relatively small quantity and the nature of the fuel, containment booms were not considered necessary.
Initial observations indicated that the spill was moving west and no impact on Statia’s shoreline was expected.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, including currents and weather conditions. The vessel is also being inspected to determine the cause of the spill.
