A barge carrying approximately 8,000 barrels of waste oil had to be stabilised after it began listing heavily at a private wharf on the East Bank of Demerara, prompting an emergency response to prevent a potential oil spill in the Demerara River.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said containment booms were deployed around the barge as a precaution to restrict the movement of any oil that might leak into the water.
Corrective measures were also taken to stabilise the vessel, which is now upright, with its cargo reportedly intact.
Several agencies remain involved in the response, including the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Guyana Fire Service, the Fisheries Department and the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard.
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With thousands of barrels of waste oil aboard, a spill could pose a threat to the river environment and potentially affect people who depend on the waterway for fishing, transportation and their livelihoods. However, the scale of any potential impact would depend on whether a leak occurred, the nature of the material and the extent of any contamination.
The CDC said the situation remains stable and under control, with authorities continuing to monitor the vessel and support containment, recovery and environmental protection efforts.
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