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No cause for alarm over Ibiza fuel spill: minister
AFP
MADRID
Petroleumworld.com 07 16 07Spain's transport minister said Saturday there was no cause for alarm despite the discovery of new fuel leaks from a freighter that crashed midweek off the holiday island of Ibiza.
Maritime rescue services director Pilar Tejo said a further leak of hydraulic oil had emerged from the Don Pedro, a 145-metre (476-foot) freighter transporting 100 tonnes of fuel oil and 50 tonnes of diesel, which sank Wednesday after hitting a rocky offshore outcrop.
The accident saw authorities close two beaches on Thursday as a result of the pollution seeping from the ship and then declare a third off-limits Friday while divers plugged holes in the hull of the vessel, resting some 15 metres (45 feet) below the surface.
Tejo said a new slick some 50 metres (150 feet) long was closing in on an area of natural parkland, although protective booms were in place, and added a private firm had been tasked with the urgent extraction of oil remaining in the ship, which was also carrying trucks and other cargo.
Spanish Transport Minister Magdalena Alvarez insisted, however, that the situation was being brought rapidly under control, adding the park was not in danger.
"The beaches are being cleared up, the new fuel leaks have not affected the natural park and (clean-up) work is proceeding rapidly. There is no call for alarm," Alvarez insisted, adding it appeared the cause of the incident was human error.
Iscomar, the company which owns the vessel, had indicated the same cause following early investigations.
Alvarez, who Friday said the beaches affected "should be cleaned up within days," revealed an Iscomar ship was currently being kept in port in the eastern Spanish city of Alicante on basic security grounds although she stressed it had not violated any operational norms.
She said she believed tourism would not be affected on the island bursting with thousands of visitors, many from Britain and Germany, attracted by its famous nightlife and sparkling beaches.
Around 145 volunteers had by Friday helped to shift some five tonnes of fuel that reached the shoreline.
Specialist response vessels had cleared a further 25 tonnes at sea and Alvarez said preparations were under way to remove the remaining fuel from the ship itself.
AFP 14 2044 GMT 07 07
Copyright© 2007 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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