PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, at approximately 10:50 a.m., N.V. GEBE experienced an oil spill at the Power Plant, regrettably leading to oil release onto parts of the shoreline. The oil spill was an unfortunate event that originated from an overflowing settling tank within the fuel farm, the central point at the Power Plant for the primary fuel oil holdings. The excess oil cascaded into the surrounding area and eventually reached select shoreline parts via storm drains.
N.V. GEBE's dedicated team promptly mobilized an emergency response team and successfully contained the spill internally. Additionally, the team swiftly activated the Oil Spill Response Protocol. During this process, the relevant authorities, including The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) and the environmental agency, i.e., The Nature Foundation St. Maarten, were immediately alerted to ensure the situation was handled safely and efficiently.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, N.V. GEBE promptly sought assistance from Sol Antilles N.V. Their invaluable support, combined with the efforts of the teams from the Nature Foundation and N.V. GEBE, significantly bolstered the containment measures, effectively curbing the spread of oil and mitigating its impact on vulnerable ecosystems.
With all hands on deck, the teams worked effectively together to clean up and contain the oil spill in a well-coordinated, collaborative response effort.
N.V. GEBE extends its sincere gratitude to the Nature Foundation St. Maarten, Sol Antilles N.V., and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard for their swift collaboration and unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. Their partnership has been instrumental in minimizing the ecological impact of this incident.
The Nature Foundation St. Maarten states that they are very thankful for GEBE's quick call to report the oil spill and clear communication regarding the situation. Today's incident was quickly mitigated and contained thanks to the bilateral communication between GEBE and Nature Foundation. We look forward to further collaboration to build higher capacity for future responses. Only through better contingency planning and capacity building can we address similar incidents and protect the coastal environment of Sint Maarten. The quick response of the Nature Foundation team was instrumental in lessening the spill's impacts to ensure the situation was managed correctly.
