Upon receiving preliminary information about the incident, the Acting Island Governor brought the matter to the attention of the Crisis Manager, who subsequently convened an emergency meeting with the relevant Emergency Support Function (ESF) partners to assess the situation and determine whether any measures were required to protect the public.
Given the specialised industrial, environmental and regulatory nature of an incident at a Type IV facility, the Government sought and relied on the technical findings and regulatory assessment of the competent authorities. This approach ensures that information shared with the community is accurate, verified, and responsible.
According to information provided by GTI and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), fuel oil leaked from a product pipeline on 21 July 2026 while preparations were being made to transfer the oil to a ship. A technical malfunction, combined with human error, resulted in an estimated 19,000 barrels of fuel oil entering the terminal’s designated containment basins.
The containment basins are designed to collect fuel products in the event of a leak or spill and prevent further spreading. The fuel oil remained within these basins and did not enter the sea or surrounding natural areas.
The liquid fuel oil is being removed using vacuum trucks and temporarily stored in tanks. Contaminated soil is being excavated and placed in containers or drums for later removal.
The ILT is monitoring the clean-up operation and is involved in the investigation into the cause of the incident.
Based on the assessments received, no immediate risk was identified for nearby residents, GTI employees, or the surrounding environment. No toxic vapors were reported to have been released, and no protective action was required from the public.
The Government requested detailed information from GTI, the ILT and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management regarding the scale of the spill, the containment measures, the clean-up operation and any possible effects on public health, air quality, the marine environment and surrounding nature.
The Department of Licensing, Supervision and Enforcement (VTH) assisted with the preparation of the Government’s report on the incident.
Follow-up meetings have since been held daily to review developments and monitor the progress of the clean-up.
A joint meeting involving the Government, GTI, the ILT and the relevant ministries is scheduled for Monday, 3 August, to review the latest developments and determine the next steps.
The Statia Government will continue to follow the situation closely and will inform the community promptly should new information change the current assessment.
The Statia Government thanks the community for its patience and understanding and remains committed to providing accurate and verified information as it becomes available.
