Preliminary fingerprinting reports by the IMA indicate hydrocarbon discharge affecting Tobago is intermediate fuel oil
The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has reported that the hydrocarbon discharge affecting Tobago’s southeast coast is identified as ‘intermediate fuel oil’. The preliminary fingerprinting reports from the Institute of Marine Affairs confirm this finding. Samples were taken from various locations, including Canoe Bay shoreline, 200 meters from the vessel, and near the vessel. Analysis using ‘Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)’ revealed that the hydrocarbon discharge is consistent with refined oil characteristics. ‘Intermediate fuel oil’, known as ‘bunker fuel’ in industrial use, is the term for fuel oil used by marine vessels.
