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The task of removing 800 gallons of fuel from the 85 foot luxury yacht – the Great Escape – has been successfully completed. As we’ve been reporting, the yacht ran aground on the reef near Hunting Caye on November 30th. It’s been there since then – waiting to be pulled off the reef. But the situation became urgent late last week when the vessel fell apart and sank.

Personnel from the Port Authority and Department of Environment rushed to the scene on Friday and the removal of the secured container filled with fuel was completed on Saturday. The container of fuel was placed on one of the neighboring cayes.

And while the 800 gallons of fuel is gone, the yacht is still there – “sleeping with the fishes”, so to speak. Chief Environmental Officer Martin Allegria says it is the responsibility of the Port Authority to remove what remains of the luxury yacht. Once it is moved, Allegria says they will be able to conduct a damage assessment to determine the extent of the damage to the barrier reef.

The yacht’s captain and owner American national Albert Barscroft was exiting Belize when he ran aground. He was allowed to leave the country for medical reasons but is required to return. He has been notified in writing that he needs to pay for the removal of the yacht in addition to the damage to the reef.