The Roadtown Fast Ferry boat Makana foundered Wednesday at Subbase Dry Dock in Crown Bay, spilling about 15 to 20 gallons of oil into the sea, according to Planning and Natural Resources Enforcement Division Director Roberto Tapia.
“It was a minimal oil spill and they cleaned it up immediately,” Tapia said Thursday.
According to Tapia, the ferry was tied up at the dry dock with its stern to the wind when it began taking on water through its exhaust lines. He said the boat was in dry dock to move the exhaust lines higher. He said only the boat’s stern went under.
“They weren’t paying attention,” Tapia said.
He said that after a couple of hours, the boat was refloated.
The matter is under investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard, and Tapia said once that investigation is complete, Planning will decide a course of action. Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad could not be reached for comment.
Tapia said no one was hurt in the incident.
Phone calls to Road Town Fast Ferry’s St. Thomas office were referred to the Tortola office. No one returned that call.
