The Tribune

Sun Oil yesterday said it had taken "swift action" to contain and remediate the diesel fuel spillage that contaminated the marina at Exuma's Emerald Bay Resort.

The company, a subsidiary of BISX-listed FOCOL Holdings, said it would co-operate fully to prevent a repeat of Monday's incident that forced it to dispatch an emergency response team from Nassau after initial containment efforts by its own workers and marina staff.

Clinton Rolle, Sun Oil's deputy general manager, said: "Swift action, along with favourable wind and tidal patterns, contained the release to a confined area within the marina. Containment, in conjunction with the immediate dispatch of our emergency management team, allowed us to quickly remediate the situation to minimise environmental impact.

"We were able to successfully recover the fuel from the water by Tuesday, August 21, and then complete the final remediation process on the evening of Wednesday, August 22."

An initial investigation by Sun Oil and regulatory agencies, which included the Port Department, confirmed that the fuel leak was pipeline-related. Mr Rolle said: "We want to assure the Bahamian community, and especially residents of Exuma, that our commitment to safe, environmentally-friendly fuelling operations is strong.

"The pipelines installed at the site are double- walled, consistent with industry best practice, and the lines are pressure-tested annually, a process witnessed by government authorities to confirm their ongoing integrity." There were no identified pipeline problems at the Exuma facility during the testing that occurred in May 2018.

Mr Rolle said: "Sun Oil will continue to provide our full co-operation to the authorities, and will ensure that the findings from this incident are used to prevent a recurrence."