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USS GRAVELY (DDG-107) is an Arleigh Burke-class (Flight IIA) Aegis missile destroyer. One of seven

U.S. Navy ships now patrolling waters between

Trinidad and Tobago,

Guyana and Venezuela.

Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Williams "U.S. Navy warships in the southern Caribbean are increasingly regarded as vital for de-escalating regional tensions, deterring military posturing, and safeguarding critical ultra-deepwater oil and gas infrastructure." and security relationship with its key Caribbean trading strument of Trinidad and Tobago. That journey came full partner, while also creating employment opportunities for circle earlier this year when Harvard University offcially hundreds of Trinidad and Tobago nationals throughout welcomed the Harvard College Steelpan Ensemble, an the construction phase. achievement made possible by the dedication of Trinida-

The longstanding relationship between the United dian student Adam Bartholomew. What began as recycled

States of America and Trinidad and Tobago has always oil drums has evolved into a global symbol of cultural been of strategic importance and cultural exchange. Dur- pride and academic recognition. ing World War II, Trinidad served as a critical location for

U.S. naval and air bases, laying the foundation for endur-

Reuse of 55-gallon oil drums utilized to ing ties. Today, those connections remain strong and vis- make musical steel band instruments. ible from shared diplomatic and economic interest to cul- tural expressions abroad. A striking example is the annual presence of Trinidad and Tobago’s top steel bands perform- ing under the under the bright lights in the center of Times

Square, New York City – an enduring reminder of how the islands’ music continues to resonate on the global stage.

The legacy of this cultural innovation is rooted in the oil industry. Between 1956 and 1985, the TEXACO refnery at Point-a-Pierre played an unlikely role in shaping Trini- dad and Tobago’s musical identity. The reuse of 55-gallon oil drums from the refnery provided the foundation for the widespread development of fnely tuned steelpans, as instrument now celebrated worldwide as the national in-

Credit: Adam Bartholomew

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 39