According to the authorities of Gibraltar, a major fuel oil leak formed after the collision of a freighter which collided at the beginning of the week with an LNG carrier.
Gibraltar maritime services have launched a major operation to plug a heavy fuel oil leak from a cargo ship that collided with an LNG tanker earlier this week, authorities in this British enclave reported on Thursday. The boat OS 35 has been stranded off Gibraltar, a British territory located in the extreme south of Spain, since the collision which occurred Monday evening with the LNG carrier, dedicated to the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Her crew of 24 was evacuated.
According to authorities in Gibraltar, its hull broke apart on Wednesday evening, but the bulk carrier has not separated into two parts at this stage. “Gibraltar Port Authority” however “confirmed a leak of heavy fuel oil, a small quantity of which escaped from the perimeter of the floating boom” installed to contain the leaks, the Gibraltar government said in a statement.
#repost @salvage_and_wreck
Hull of OS 35 breaks – Gibraltar declares Major Incident UPDATE – August 31 Given the latest development affecting the vessel and the fact that it remains loaded with fuel, a Major Incident (MAJAX) has now been declared. pic.twitter.com/mGXoM6cknU— ⚓️MarioDeFenza⚓️ (@MarioDeFenza) September 1, 2022
The leak “is completely under control”
According to the government, the leak on the ship OS 35 occurred at the level of pipes which had initially been sealed, but whose joints came loose. The leak “is completely under control” and “the priority is (…) to recover the fuel (…) which escaped from the dam”, but also that which remained “inside”, specifies- he.
Bulk carriers are vessels dedicated to the transport of solid bulk goods, such as cereals, and the fuel on board is that used by the vessel itself.
The collision with the LNG carrier occurred while OS 35 was maneuvering to leave the Bay of Gibraltar. Since the accident, traffic has been suspended in the port of British territory, with some exceptions. The government of Gibraltar assured that it was preparing “an operation to extract the fuel as soon as possible” from the bulk carrier, “but in the cleanest way and with the least possible risk”.