The Ministry of Transport and Housing said yesterday that it was investigating an apparent oil slick in waters at the Buckeye terminal in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
"Upon receiving the notification, the Ministry of Transport and Housing immediately executed its contingency plan including the activation of the National Oil Spill Advisory Committee," the ministry said.
"Senior officials from the Ministry of Transport and Housing and the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources from New Providence are expected to arrive in Grand Bahama [today] to assess the impact and to investigate the source of the oil slick.
"The departure of the team for Grand Bahama is contingent on the dissipation of a weather system near the island.
"Meantime, a team from the Port Department in Grand Bahama is currently monitoring the response efforts.
"Further updates will be provided to members of the public as the investigation progresses."
Save The Bays, an environmental group, said a team was mobilized to investigate the damage.
"Upon reaching Lover's Beach, our team was relieved to find that the immediate coastal area showed no signs of oil contamination," Save The Bays said.
"This was particularly heartening as Lover's Beach serves as a vital marine resource for many local communities. Our initial observations indicated that the spill had not reached the shoreline.
"During our assessment, we witnessed the presence of four boats approximately two miles offshore, seemingly working to mitigate the effects of the spill. This response effort extended for a considerable distance from the jetty.
"It is worth noting that despite the absence of visible oil on the shores, there was a noticeable odor in the vicinity.
"We acknowledge the efforts of the authorities and emergency responders who swiftly addressed this incident. We urge the responsible agencies to ensure a thorough cleanup operation, verifying that all necessary measures are taken to prevent any lasting environmental damage."
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