Gibraltar Port Authority (GBA) has suspended all operations as it battles to contain the growing threat of an environmental disaster close to the shore (*) of Catalan Bay following last Tuesday morning’s collision between a Hazchem-laden bulk tanker and a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) carrier.
The stricken tanker, the OS 35, which remains berthed on a sandbank after it rammed into the Adam LNG, started breaking over the past few days, with liquid cargo already seeping out of its hull.
Apart from carrying steel girders at the time of the accident, it was also loaded with 183 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, 250 tonnes of diesel, and 27 tonnes of lube oil.
At least three beaches in the Catalan Bay Area have reported oil washing up in areas popular among tourists visiting the area.
Efforts to contain fuel and oil spills from the 23-year-old-tanker have been partly successful, with some spillage clearly visible from a boomed-off area surrounding the vessel.
The bow of the ship is clearly submerged and appears to be breaking up, while reports are stating that it has been damaged amidships, below the waterline.
The Adam LNG remains at the Gibraltar port itself where it has undergone structural integrity assessments that found it to be in a satisfactory condition.
However, some repairs seem to be necessary before it can continue its voyage to the Port of Algericas.
OS 35 was on its way to the Dutch Port of Vlissingen when it rammed into the Adam LNG which was at anchorage at the time.
Meanwhile, reports of incoming bad weather have also been received, while salvage response teams and GBA personnel work around the clock to avoid the tanker’s hull from rupturing.
* A report last week stating that the tanker was stuck some 320 kilometres east of Catalan Bay was incorrect.
