The Bahamian Oil Spill Contingency Committee is preparing to respond when (not if) oil from the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico makes landfall on beaches in the Western Bahamas:
With the probability of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from an uncapped underwater well until possibly August, the Bahamian Oil Spill Committee projects changing winds to move the flowing oil toward the Western Bahamas.
“The Government has adopted a very serious approach with the oil spill and realised we have to bring in experts,” said Eric Carey, Spokesman for the Oil spill Contingency Committee.
“We went to the International Maritime Authority and the BMA [Bahamas Maritime Authority] put in a request by letter to the IMO. They have responded with two experts here today. These experts will lead the development of a response strategy for The Bahamas.”
The IMO experts will report to Captain Patrick O’Neil with their recommendations of how The Bahamas needs to prepare for this pending threat. They are looking at protecting the Biminis, the west end of Grand Bahama and the Northern Abaco Cays.
“We’re still not seeing oil in large amounts in Florida, so it gives us a little bit more time to continue our preparation,” said Mr. Carey.
Read the full article for more information.
[Photo: Steve]
