FSO Nabarima’s potential collapse in the Gulf of Paria
Many are fearing an environmental disaster as photos showing the potential collapse of FSO Nabarima in the Gulf of Paria are going viral online.
FSO Nabarima is holding some 1.3 million barrels of crude oil. Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) has published the photos on their social media accounts last Friday.
Nabarima Sinking Confirmed! #ffos #nabarima #oilspillthreat #urgent https://t.co/b5FWVcJgJD pic.twitter.com/CZoih1WuVp
— ffostt (@ffostt1) October 16, 2020
The Floating Storage and Offshore (FSO) was built in 2005. The facility is operated by a joint venture by Venezuela state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela [PDVSA.UL] and Italy’s Eni. Petrosucre, which have been exploring options to offload crude from the vessel. But due to U.S. sanctions to the company, Nabarima has been left idle for over a year.
Over the last few months, FFOS has been urging Rowley’s government to act on the environmental concerns raised and identified like the flooding of the lower decks.
The oil storage tanker Nabarima is at major risk of sinking in the gulf of paria. These photos reportedly show the lower decks onboard the tanker filled with water. The storage tanker is apparently listing in the water. #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/K1fuXtafa4
— CNW (@ConflictsW) August 30, 2020
Gary Aboud, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea’s corporate secretary, said he was concerned about a potential oil spill, which would devastate the livelihoods of Trinidadian fishermen.
“If this thing flips we will all pay the consequences for decades to come. Responsible Government must be proactive and ensure that this imminent environmental catastrophe does not decimate the Caribbean Sea.”
As images showing the crude-laden vessel at an incline have raised concerns about possible environmental hazards, a Reuters report said the idled facility is undergoing repairs to replace valves on the vessel.
“No access granted” to inspect Nabarima until October
The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs said that despite utilizing all available channels to verify the vessel’s status, they have not been given permission by Venezuelan authorities to immediately inspect the vessel.
“Since those initial reports, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has consistently utilized all available channels to press for verification of the status of the vessel in question. The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, and the Ministry of National Security have all been actively working on solutions to the Nabarima issue. The Venezuelan Government then agreed to permit a team of our Experts to cross the border and assess the Nabarima, but subsequently shifted from an initial position that this could be done by the end of September to their current position that the inspection team would receive permission to visit on 20th October.”
The Ministry said their team of experts is trying to view the vessel as soon as it is allowed to.
The Ministry likewise noted that the Venezuelan ambassador described the photos circulating showing as “propaganda”, adding that said the photo was taken prior to the stabilisation works.