The Guyanese-flagged cargo vessel Hein partially submerged after running aground on the southern side of Monas Island, Trinidad and Tobago, on 11 June.
According to local news, the incident was caused by a cargo shift, specifically bricks, while en route to St. Vincent. To avoid capsizing, the crew intentionally beached the vessel. Officials confirmed the hull remains intact, and operations to refloat the ship are in progress.
Despite this, hydrocarbons have begun leaking from the bilge, raising environmental alarms across the Chaguaramas Basin and the Gulf of Paria. This spill threatens marine ecosystems, local fisheries, and nearby coastal communities.
The environmental group Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) has issued an urgent plea for authorities, including the Ministry of Energy, IMA, and EMA, to activate the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and deploy oil containment booms immediately, St Vincent Times reports.
