A partially sunk barge linked to a Virgin Gorda construction company has been in Fat Hogs Bay for more than two months as government officials attempt to work with the owner to resolve the issue, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.
The VI Quest, a 205-foot cargo vessel advertised on ACE Marine Contractors’ website, has drawn complaints from residents who say it is an eyesore and a safety hazard, opposition member Marlon Penn alleged.
“It’s not only just unsightly, but it’s also posing a health risk to the environment and to the people that live in that environment,” said Mr. Penn, who represents much of East End as the Eighth District representative in the House of Assembly. “People have expressed to me the smell of diesel that is emanating from the vessel going into the marine life, as well as there’s a rope that’s tied to the vessel across the harbour.”
The rope, he said, poses a potential safety hazard.
“A lot of the boaters have expressed to me their concern,” Mr. Penn told the Beacon Oct. 28. “If someone comes in there at an elevated speed and they’re not aware of [the rope], someone is going to get seriously hurt.”
Mr. Penn added that he has struggled to get information about the ship despite reaching out to Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley; the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change; the Department of Disaster Management; and the BVI Ports Authority.
John Samuel, the director of the Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authority, told the Beacon on Oct. 11 that the ministry, DDM and marine police are in charge of addressing the issue. Ronald Smith-Berkeley, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said on Oct. 14 that his team had been in discussions with the Quest’s owner.
“I believe there’s a follow-up discussion, because the owner was supposed to have provided us with a plan of action in order to deal with the vessel, as it belongs to her,” Mr. Smith-Berkeley told the Beacon at the time.
Karia Christopher, government’s acting communications director, confirmed that follow-up discussions between the government and the owner were scheduled for Oct. 30.
However, Mr. Smith-Berkeley, Ms. Christopher and Dr. Wheatley did not respond to requests for an update on the planned meeting before Beacon press time Oct. 30, and ACE Marine Contractors did not respond to messages.
Ownership
The website for the Virgin Gorda-based construction company provides a brief history of the acquisition of the VI Quest.
“After the passing of the two hurricanes back in September 2017, the demand for construction material to rebuild the island was very prevalent,” the website states. “ACE Marine Contractors Ltd. was awarded two major contracts with very stringent completion dates. The major marine transportation company was overwhelmed; therefore, scheduling was a headache as delivery of material was often inconsistent.”
Because of these pressures, the website explains, ACE Marine Contractors decided to enter the marine logistics sector as part of efforts to “eliminate shipping costs” while better controlling delivery times.
“After successful completion of the projects in 2019, and with a now established logistics department, management decided to acquire a vessel,” the website states. “The MV ‘VI Quest’ was bought and configured to meet the specific requirements, while eliminating previous challenges the company had previously encountered while contracting other vessels.”
Ship’s specs
A specification sheet linked on the website states that the Quest was refitted to transport shipping containers, 200 tons of cement, and 250,000 gallons of fuel.
The 205-by-46-foot boat was built in 1999 as an offshore supply vessel, according to records kept by the United States Cost Guard.
Such vessels are often used to ferry supplies and labour to offshore oil rigs.
The maximum draft is 14 feet, according to the specification sheet, but only the 12-foot marker is visible on the 2,649-ton-displacement ship’s hull.
ACE Marine’s website names Jacintha Faulkner as the company’s founder and managing director, noting that she earned an associate degree in computer drafting and design from ITT Technical Institute in 2007 and a bachelor of fine arts degree in interior design from the American Intercontinental University in 2009.
Despite its links to the VI company, the specification sheet and US Coast Guard records state that the Quest is flagged in Togo, a country in west Africa.