Monday, March 18, 2024

Deep water submersible grounds on reef off Ambergris Caye

Share

Press Release – Oceana in Belize – March 11, 2015 – Based on requests from residents of Ambergris Caye and the media for more information about the grounding of a deep water submersible on the Belize Barrier Reef, on Friday, March 13th 2015, Oceana Belize and personnel from the Hol Chan Marine Reserve conducted a site assessment of the incident.
10 Unidentified Floating Object Reef Portofino-1The team reports the following:
1. The deep water submersible was first discovered shortly after 3pm on Wednesday, March 11th approximately six miles north of San Pedro town in area known as Mexico Rocks.
2. The grounding is within the recently expanded Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
3. The swath of damage from the reef to where the submersible finally grounded is clearly visible.
4. The vessel came to a stop in approximately three feet of water.
5. The deep water submersible (Quantum 9, heavy work class ROV) measures almost 12ft in length by 6.6ft in width and includes four propellers topside, another two in the front and two more in the rear. The device also includes several underwater cameras.
6. The ROV includes an extended “arm”.
7. The submersible has already caused substantial damage to the coral species (including fire coral Millepora alcicornis) at the site.
8. Efforts to date to remove the submersible have proven unsuccessful because of high wave action.
9. Based on information found on the vessel (serial numbers etc.), the vessel has been identified by the manufacturer as an ROV reported as “lost” in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2014. According to reliable sources, the manufacturer contracted the ROV to a company called Impersub International, which does research and exploration for gas and oil companies.
10. Please find information on the device here: http://www.deeptechoilservices.com/pdf/Quantum_9.pdf
Oceana Belize supports the recommendation that the submersible be removed as soon as possible to avoid any further degradation to the site. This assessment is independent from any other investigation being carried out by any of the relevant government agencies. Links to video footage collected during the site assessment as well as still photos can be accessed here.10 Unidentified Floating Object Reef Portofino-2
According to Oceana Belize’s Communications Director Alyssa Carnegie, “The damage already caused by the ROV and the complexity of its removal from the Belize Barrier Reef, as well as the recent sailboat stranding off Caye Caulker, highlights the lack of the necessary resources to respond properly and timely to incidents at sea. How we handle these incidents communicates, nationally and globally, the level of respect we hold for our marine wealth.”

Read more

 

Please help support Local Journalism in Belize

For the first time in the history of the island's community newspaper, The San Pedro Sun is appealing to their thousands of readers to help support the paper during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1991 we have tirelessly provided vital local and national news. Now, more than ever, our community depends on us for trustworthy reporting, but our hard work comes with a cost. We need your support to keep delivering the news you rely on each and every day. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Please support us by making a contribution.

Local News