Fuel barge sabotage attempt sparks federal probe, threatens local fishers

Captain Luis Rivera stared at the thin sheen of oil that had crept across his morning net, a faint amber line that hinted at a deeper problem. The small‑boat fleet that hauls crab and snapper from the mangroves has never seen such a spill so close to the docking piers of Puerto Azul.

Within hours, a navy patrol vessel reported an explosive‑type device discovered on the deck of the barge *Aurora II* as it was being refuelled at the central harbor. The device was safely removed, but the incident triggered an immediate shutdown of the fuel transfer operation and a federal investigation led by the Ministry of Interior.

The Marine Ministry confirmed that the barge, owned by a private logistics firm, was carrying 1,200 kilolitres of diesel intended for the coastal power grid. Officials said the barge was on a routine route from the mainland terminal to the hydro‑grid sub‑station near the town of Bahía Verde when the device was found.

Local fishers, environmental NGOs, and the Costa Mar Reef Monitoring Network have called for a transparent inquiry, warning that even a small leak could devastate the coral nurseries that support the region’s eco‑tourism and the livelihoods of over 3,200 licensed captains.