Ghost ship threatens reef as inclement weather stalls removal

The abandoned MV Christina Debora, now lodged on the reef crest off the Sam Lord’s Castle coastline, is continuing to damage the reef through constant rocking and sand displacement, with rough weather forcing authorities to pause removal efforts.

Speaking with Barbados TODAY on Friday, Head of the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), Dr Leo Brewster, said there is already “obvious evidence of vessel damage because the vessel has run aground”, explaining that the ship entered “from the outside of the reef and is currently partially stuck on the reef crest, which is the top part of the reef.

“The greatest risk is the continued damage from the rocking of the boat because of the wave action, so it will in essence, continue to damage the reef area in the immediate vicinity of the hull of the vessel, because it will always be moving and slightly shifting.”

According to Dr Brewster, prolonged grounding could worsen the situation significantly.

He revealed that divers had already observed changes to the seabed.

“It could also lead to potential settlement of the vessel on top of the reef over time if it stays there too long,” he said, noting that this was why the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) had mobilised a multi-agency response team on site.

“There’s evidence of a lot of sand movement now from under the vessel, coming into the inner side of the reef. That is also going to be a major problem as well, because over time that could lead to channelling across the rooftop or sand sedimentation on top of the reef.”

While removal plans are being carefully weighed to limit further environmental harm, Dr Brewster said the only viable option under consideration is a controlled extraction along the same path the vessel followed when it grounded.

“We have to try and slowly pull it off the reef by trying to pull it backwards along the same track,” he explained. “The crest of the reef is quite wide, so it would be unwise to try and pull it over the top to cause more damage.”

He stressed the scale of the operation, pointing out that the vessel is over 100 ft long.

“This is not a small fishing boat like what we have in Barbados,” he said, adding that discussions are still ongoing among agencies “in terms of what’s the best approach”.

While environmental risks remain, weather conditions have slowed progress.

In a follow up interview on Friday, Deputy Director of the DEM, Major Robert Harewood, said monitoring continues but active removal has been delayed.

“The drone team deployed this morning, but given the inclement weather, the drone was not able to fly,” he said, though low-level footage confirmed the vessel was still resting on the reef.

“The weather has caused us to pause a little bit on our efforts today,” he said, noting that a flood watch remains in effect and sea conditions are being closely assessed. “Most of the weather is coming from the south, so the sea conditions may not be the best.”

Despite the pause, coordination among agencies remains constant.

Major Harewood said a decision on when to resume towing operations will depend on conditions later today or early tomorrow.

“We are working very closely… supporting the Barbados Coast Guard in this endeavour, both the Coastal Zone Management Unit and the other agencies.

“Depending on what the weather looks like this evening, we may be able to get a vessel out to restart the operation. If not, we may have to then go back to it in the morning,” Major Harewood explained.

“Our biggest concern right now… is to get the vessel safely off the reef so that it doesn’t cause any additional damage to the reef.” laurynescamilla@barbadostoday.bb