Oil spill in Kingston Harbour

A team of officials was yesterday conducting investigations into an oil spill in the Kingston Harbour in the vicinity of the Kingston Wharves and Kingston Container Terminal (KCT).

In a release, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) said it was aware of the incident and was on the scene with representatives from the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, KCT and Kingston Wharves.

"NEPA has garnered the assistance of Petrojam Jamaica Limited to acquire boons and absorption mats to further contain and remove the oil from the water," the release stated. "A Coast Guard vessel is now in the Kingston Harbour making assessments."

NEPA said that based on initial assessments, there had been no immediate evidence of a fish kill.

"However, the extent of the impacts on the marine environment is not known. NEPA, therefore, takes this opportunity to remind shipping interests to stay away from the area until more information is known," the release added.

NEPA said periodic updates would be given through the media as it continued to monitor the situation.