NATIONAL RESPONSE TO RUN AGROUND VESSEL MV CHRISTINA DEBORA
A government-led inter-agency task force has been assigned to address the run aground vessel MV Christina Debora off Sam Lord’s Castle, Barbados
On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at approximately 12:33 p.m., the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) received reports from local fishermen that the vessel MV Christina Debora was sighted off Sam Lord’s Castle.
Following that, additional information was received at approximately 5:30 p.m. that the vessel appeared to be discharging an oil-like substance.
The BDF deployed assets from its Drone Unit and the Barbados Coast Guard (BCG) to investigate and a national response team was activated, which included officials from the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Barbados National Energy Company Limited (BNECL), Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), and The Barbados Police Service (TBPS).
On Thursday, January 29, a joint assessment team comprising the BDF, DEM, CZMU, EPD, MOH, and the Barbados Fire Service conducted an initial assessment of the vessel and the surrounding area.
From the assessment, it was determined that there was no evidence of hydrocarbons present around the vessel, and as such, no oil spill was evident.
To minimise reef damage, attempts were also made by the BCG and the CZMU on Thursday, January 29, to free the vessel, but were unsuccessful, and inclement weather hampered any efforts on Friday, January 30.
The national agencies are currently engaged in ongoing robust efforts to determine next steps and how to remove the MV Christina Debora from Cobblers Reef.
In the interim, the public is asked to maintain a distance of 500 meters as further assessments are being conducted by the inter-agency team, and under no circumstances is any member of the public to venture into the surrounding area or board the vessel.