On May 15 2024, a fire broke out on the tanker AV Aqua Marine, a decommissioned oil tanker anchored near the Port of Port-of-Spain.
As local news sources report, the vessel, abandoned in local waters since 2011 and purchased for scrap metal, was undergoing work when a spark ignited residual fuel onboard. Firefighters, aided by the Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Port Authority, battled the blaze for approximately three-and-a-half hours, with assistance from a Port Authority tugboat.
Fortunately, there were no significant oil spills or injuries reported, though the vessel is now 90 percent submerged. The incident, ruled as accidental by Deputy Chief Fire Officer Andy Hutchinson, involved hot works and salvaging activities that led to a fire in the engine compartment, triggering a small explosion and necessitating the evacuation of six workers.
Despite challenges, including detaching a barge attached to the vessel, the fire was successfully extinguished with nearly 100,000 gallons of seawater. The owner of the vessel has been identified.