The majority of the fuel has now been extracted from the OS35, which collided with the unladen LNG carrier Adam LNG in the Bay of Gibraltar on Monday, August 29.
The OS 35 was then anchored off Catalan Bay where it partially sank.
According to the latest update from the Gibraltar Port Authority, the operation is now moving from the emergency stage to its recovery phase.
The majority of the vessel’s low sulphur fuel oil, diesel and lube oil has been removed and the port captain says the situation remains stable.
He is considering reopening regular port activities today (Wednesday) if he is satisfied that the port has the resources and resilience at its disposal to respond to any difficulties that it may experience due to normal bunkering operations. Detailed plans for this are already in the advanced stage, according to the port authority.
Advice on fishing is being reviewed daily and authorisation for its resumption could be granted today.
According to the Department of Environment, the contamination has mostly been contained and much of the free-floating sheen has either been collected or dispersed.
Containment booms around the OS 35 were working well, the department said.
The situation at the beaches will continue to be reviewed daily, with clean-up operations at Sandy Bay and Little Bay ongoing.
