By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNMENT officials yesterday said they had no knowledge of a floating oil rig in waters in the northern Bahamas after aerial photographs emerged on social media appearing to show one to have been stationary for three days 20 miles south of Abaco.

Two government officials, who wished to remain anonymous, could not confirm to The Tribune the existence of the development drilling rig, owned by a prominent offshore drilling company, in Bahamian waters.

A second image was posted, showing the route the oil rig had taken. Via location markers, it showed how, on December 18, the rig was stationed south off the coast of New Orleans before travelling to a point east of Miami, arriving there at 2.33pm on December 23. Seven hours later the rig was supposedly southwest of east Grand Bahama. It came to a stop on Christmas Day south of Abaco and appears not to have moved since.

The posts sparked debate on Facebook, with many people accusing the government of “lying” to the Bahamian people about oil drilling in the Bahamas. However, the rig, owned by Transocean, is believed to be en route to Angola.

The Bahamas Petroleum Company has a permit for an exploratory test well in the Bahamas and should oil be discovered the Government has said it will hold a referendum on whether to proceed.