Government Provides Update On Oil-based Substance Allegedly Released From Carnival Magic

This photo taken by a Carnival Magic Passenger Chuck Richards and posted on his X (Twitter) Account.

The Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources (DECR) has provide an update on the discharge of soot from the Carnival Magic as the cruise boat was about to depart Grand Turk.

The following is the news release from the DECR:

The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) wishes to inform the general public about an incident on November 1, 2023, in Grand Turk, which led to the release of a substantial amount of soot into the surrounding environment.

At approximately 17:30 local time on November 1, 2023, a cruise ship bearing the call sign “Carnival Magic” was preparing for departure at the Port of Grand Turk when it experienced a complete blackout. This unexpected power outage resulted in the discharge of a significant quantity of soot from the ship.

The Port Agent promptly notified the Port Authorities and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, which swiftly dispatched teams to the scene to assess the situation. Upon examination, it was determined that the substance released into the water was soot, covering an estimated area of around 2000 square feet.

In response to this incident, a comprehensive plan was implemented, which included deploying containment booms to mitigate the spread of the soot away from the ship. Local operator Talbot, who was near the port area, also assisted. The DECR worked assiduously with the Port Authority, Grand Turk Cruise Center, and local volunteers to remove the soot from the water even though unfavourable sea and lighting conditions hampered it.

A photo of the Carnival Magic, which is alleged to have emitted what appeared to be black oil-base substance off the coast of Grand Turk.

The Carnival Magic cruise ship departed from the Port of Grand Turk at approximately 8:45 PM that evening.

This incident, a first-time occurrence of this nature in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is currently under investigation. The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, in collaboration with the Ports Authority and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, is actively working alongside the Cruise Centre to review existing measures. The goal is to prevent future incidents of this kind and enhance the efficiency of response and mitigation measures.

The Minister, Hon. Josephine Connolly, emphasized that the “Ministry and, by extension, the Government remain committed to ensuring the protection and preservation of our pristine environment, and we are dedicated to responsibly addressing this incident.”

We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the community and will provide updates as the investigation progresses.