Port Commissioner Says Safety First Regarding Humilde Viajero

And staying with fuel, the mystery around the Humilde Viajero tanker continues to grow. The vessel arrived in Belizean waters without a single piece of proper paperwork to explain who sent it, or what exactly it’s carrying. Ports Commissioner Kaylon Young says the Port Authority is now focused on one thing and that is making sure the ship itself doesn’t pose an immediate threat. But when it comes to the tanker’s questionable cargo, he’s clear, that’s squarely in the hands of Customs and the Department of the Environment. Young notes that cases like this are highly unusual, emphasizing that Belize’s port system is usually a well-oiled operation that keeps close tabs on vessels long before they reach our shores.

 

Kaylon Young, Ports Commissioner, Belize Port Authority

“The Port Authority is responsible for the safety of the vessel. We are still involved in terms of its safety. DOE is responsible for fuel imports. The Port Authority has no jurisdiction over the fuel or the cargo. That is with the Customs Department in collaboration with Department of the Environment. We still have some safety issues to be resolved on board the vessels. Customs Department and other agencies do have some litigation issues that need to be sorted out.  It is not a normal occurrence. There are procedures in place for vessel entries and departure and the importation of goods into the country. Those procedures are normally adhered to. We have checkpoints to ensure that these things are properly carried out. This is, in my view, a rare incident. I have not seen anything like this recently.”

 

With safety fixes underway and legal questions pending, Customs and the DOE handle the mystery fuel while the Port Authority keeps the Humilde Viajero secure, an unusual blip in Belize’s usually tight port controls.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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