(Trinidad Express) Sophisticated equipment, including an analog fuel pump, has been found aboard a third vessel seized, attempting a daylight transfer of fuel off Brick Field in Waterloo.
Just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, police officers attached to the Couva Police Station noticed two vessels close together out at sea and alerted the Coast Guard.
When Coast Guard officials boarded the vessels they discovered pumps, siphon hoses filled with fuel and two empty holding bays with diesel pooled at the bottom. The other vessel was a 38-foot pirogue outfitted with compartments for transporting fuel.
Coast Guard public relations officer, Lieutenant Kirk Jean-Baptiste, yesterday said one vessel, which was berthed at Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas, was empty while the other, which is berthed at a secret location, was full of fuel. He said these vessels were also camouflaged to look like fishing trawlers, but once again there was no fish or bait on board.
The vessels were configured in a similar fashion to the other two seized last week, save for the analog pump which Jean-Baptiste said he has never seen before.
