After colliding with a gas tanker off the coast of Gibraltar and leaking fuel oil into the water, salvage crews have rushed to pump fuel from a grounded ship.
Authorities reported a substantial oil spill from the OS 35 on Thursday, and booms were deployed to prevent the oil from spreading.
The British overseas territory reported that 80 percent of the ship’s diesel fuel had been removed by Friday morning.
The next 48 hours, according to the prime minister, are important.
Fabian Picardo informed that workers would begin pumping the most polluting fuel on board, heavy fuel oil.
“I am anxious about the possibility of a spill and will not feel at ease until the vessel is completely gone.”
No one was injured when the bulk carrier collided late on Monday with the liquefied natural gas-carrying vessel Adam LNG.
Despite being damaged, Gibraltar authorities reported that the OS 35 departed the Bay of Gibraltar for the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans.
The captain then signaled that he was taking on water. Officials of Gibraltar stated that they ran the carrier aground, partially submerged, to prevent it from sinking. Wednesday, low sulfur fuel oil began leaking from the tank’s vents into the sea, despite efforts by port authorities to repair the ship’s hull, which had fractured in two.
It is believed that the captain has been arrested.
Local media reported that oil had also reached the western shore of Gibraltar, even though the ship was beached on the east side of the Rock in Catalan Bay.
The chief minister stated, “The volumes that have washed ashore, while regrettable, are rather little, and we are hopeful that a complete cleanup can be accomplished.”
To monitor any contamination in what is known as the Bay of Algeciras in Spain, authorities were placed on alert, and patrols were dispatched to coastal regions.
Booms have been placed to contain the oil spill, and a Spanish maritime rescue crew has assisted Gibraltar authorities in recovering the oil from the surface using skimmers.
By Friday morning, 197 cubic meters of fuel had been extracted from the OS 35, representing around 80% of its weight, according to authorities.
