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Fri 20 Feb 2009, 17:18 GMT

EMSA vessel deployed to tackle bunker spill


Agency confirms it was contacted by Irish authorities to provide assistance.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has confirmed that it provided assistance during a bunker spill off the West Cork Coast after being contacted by Irish authorities.

On the afternoon of Tuesday 17th February, the Irish authorities decided to request assistance from the EMSA to combat an oil spill initially detected by EMSA’s CleanSeaNet service 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Fastnet Rock off the West Cork coast.

As a result, the EMSA-contracted vessel Galway Fisher was mobilised and sent to Cork on standby.

The alert was provided by the CleanSeaNet European oil spill detection service of EMSA on Saturday 14th February. The image, on the basis of which the Irish authorities learned about the spill, is one of the routine images acquired by CleanSeaNet for EU Member States.

The spill, which is now estimated to be between 400 and 500 tonnes, was originally spread over an area encompassing four miles by five miles.

Two Russian warships are believed to have been responsible for the incident, probably during a refuelling operation, when the spill occurred.

The EMSA said that it will continue utilising its CleanSeaNet European satellite oil slick detection service to monitor the pollution in the affected area.

Emergency satellite images have been ordered to provide additional information on the behaviour of the spill at sea.

At present, EMSA has 11 stand-by vessels located at different places around the EU coastline, and these are ready to assist any EU Member State which requests their services.

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