Not even a year has passed since the Bay of Algeciras was involved in oil after the accident and subsequent sinking of the ship OS35 off the coast of Cadiz when, once again, the alarms go off in this area. On this occasion, as explained by the Government of Gibraltar, the incident occurred during the transfer of oil between two ships, the Hercules 500 and the Gas Venus, receiver of the fuel, with the flag of Panama. The ship was experiencing an overflow in one of its tanks this Tuesday at around 8:22 a.m. and, at the moment, it is unknown how much liquid has been spilled into the sea.
Fabian Picardo’s team, Chief Minister of the English colony, has confirmed that the Port Authority has suspended its activity and has already launched its contingency plan for oil spills, in addition to raising the red flag on the beaches of Camp Bay and Little Bay on suspicion that the fuel could reach the coast. At the moment, there is no evidence that the contamination has affected Cádiz.
For its part, Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción have denounced that “major operations” are being carried out near the Bay of Algeciras with “the transfer” of “practically 5 million tons of marine fuel” in the Strait, according to reports from the entity, who also focuses on the few personnel who participate in these maneuvers, which, in his opinion, “is why this series of accidents occurs.”
The Bay of Algeciras has become a highway for the traffic of this type of vessel, with the risks that this entails. Not surprisingly, some mayors in the area have repeatedly asked, especially as a result of the accident of the OS35 running aground 400 meters from La Línea de la Concepción, which forced the closure of its beaches due to the arrival of fuel, for more control over this activity.
It was in August 2022 when this bulk carrier put the inhabitants of this area in check and, as a result of the spill, some fishing grounds had to cease their activity by order of the Andalusian Health Department, with the consequent economic damage. .
The environmental group spoke along the same lines then and insists now, pointing out that “bunkering” is practiced as the necessary security measures. “The security systems have not worked” and “there is not enough crew” on these ships to prevent these accidents from happening again, he stresses.
On the other hand, Verdemar announces that it is possible that remains of this new spill may reach things in Cadiz since “there is no contingency plan that can contain these hydrocarbons.”
According to the conservation group, it was the same ship that supplied oil to Gas Venus that noticed the oil overflow from one of its tanks and was able to raise the alarm. “If the gas station ship had not cut off the supply, the situation would have been a real disaster,” he said in a note.
The “bunkering” maneuvers were carried out in the southern part of the Poniente Anchorage, in the Bay of Gibraltar, whose Government has notified, as they affirm from the Rock, the Spanish authorities so that they remain alert before the possible arrival of fuel to the Algeciras area.
