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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
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Exuma, Bahamas – The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) was recently monitoring attempts to refloat a sunken barge off of Pirate’s Retreat, a small private island within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP). Park Administrator, Andrew Kriz and Deputy Warden Kendedo Marshall investigated the report, the same day that they were contacted, and they have been monitoring the activity since then.
The owner of Pirate’s Retreat, Dr. Greg Frojker, advised that the barge had been completing work on the island on the installation of a breakwater, which had local government, Port Department and BEST Commission approval. Dr. Frojker confirmed that the barge, which is owned and operated by Heavy Marine and Foundations Ltd. (HMF) had indeed sunk overnight. The barge was carrying an excavator at the time of its sinking.
The barge company worked for more than a week on refloating the barge. All savage efforts were closely monitored by the BNT and park wardens to ensure was no additional damage to the park and its resources.
BNT Park Personnel confirmed that the the barge was not resting on any corals, and there are no significant coral reef in the in the immediate vicinity. The sunken barge was not carrying fuel and the excavator did not appear to be leaking and fuels or oils except minor residual amounts initially.
The BNT remained in close contact with all parties involved as the salvage efforts continued, to ensure that no damage was done to the park’s resources, including surrounding waters. The barge was finally successfully refloated late Saturday, and is now making its way back to Nassau.
These private islands in the Exuma Park remain a challenge for managing of this special National Park, and BNT is always concerned about the potential for incidents and accidents when there is work taking place on and around these islands. It is for this reason that BNT strives to maintain good working relationships with the owners of the private islands, and their representatives, as well as relevant government agencies that approve and monitor these development projects. BNT is extremely relieved that this incident has been resolved without damage to the Exuma Park's sensitive resources.
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