Conflicting Press Releases on New Flame Salvage

• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Press Release from August 31:

Following the bow to bow collision between the oil tanker Torm Gertrud and the bulk carrier New Flame off Gibraltar on 12th August, Spain has today requested EMSA to send one of its anti-pollution vessels to the area. The bow of the New Flame still rests on the seafloor and there is a significant danger of it breaking up due to recent bad weather. Consequently, the EMSA vessel Mistra Bay will proceed to Algeciras Bay and be ready to assist in the case of an oil spill.]

“EMSA is still in the process of building up its contracted fleet of anti-pollution vessels,” said EMSA Executive Director, Willem de Ruiter. “We still have some way to go before we can provide comprehensive pollution response back-up to Member States throughout EU waters. However, on this occasion, we quickly assessed the options and offered the Malta-based Mistra Bay to the Spanish authorities within three hours of their request, which we received at 10.26 this morning.

Background

The EMSA contracted oil pollution vessel Mistra Bay is a bunker tanker which operates out of Valetta. It carries out its operations in the vicinity of the port, which means that it can be mobilised for oil pollution response operations at short notice, which has been demonstrated on this occasion. For pollution response purposes, the vessel has a recovered oil stora ge capacity of 1805 tonnes. As it has been designed for ship-to-ship transfers of oil, it has the high degree of mobility required for at-sea oil recovery operations, in addition to the extensive cargo heating capability required to discharge recovered oil.

As well as supplying the vessel, EMSA will also provide additional pollution response and satellite monitoring resources and expertise. Firstly, it will provide anti-pollution experts who will assist both in the shore based control operations and at sea. In addition, following a request from the Spanish authorities, EMSA is providing RADARSAT and/or ENVISAT satellite images for Algeciras Bay as required.

At the end of a three phase fleet development programme, EMSA contracted anti-pollution vessels will eventually provide significant back-up cover to Member States in all EU sea areas, including the Atlantic coast, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

The collision between the double hulled oil products tanker Torm Gertrud (30058 gt, built 2002, IMO 9240885, DNV classified, Danish flagged, owned and managed) and the bulk carrier New Flame (26824 gt, built 1994, IMO 9077393, Panamanian flagged and owned, Greek managed) occurred less than one kilometre off Europa Point, Gibraltar, on 12th August. The Torm Gertrud, which was carrying some 37,000 tonnes of fuel at the time, sustained extensive damage to its hull in the collision. Due to the fact that it is a double hulled tanker there was, at no time, any significant danger of pollution. It was subsequently anchored near Algeciras, but was not rendered safe enough to offload its fuel until 28th August. The weather since the time of the accident has been varied, with some periods of bad weather which caused deterioration to the partially submerged hull of the New Flame (which still has up to 500 tonnes of fuel on board). Consequently, prior to removing it from the bay, the salvors have been attempting to break it in two in a controlled way, using tugs to pull in different directions. Further bad weather earlier this week caused the hull damage to become critical, and the salvors are now deciding whether to use explosives to split the vessel in an appropriate place in order to avoid oil being spilled into the bay.

The collision occurred in Gibraltar waters and there has been collaboration between the Gibraltarian and Spanish authorities on the matter since that time. To deal with potential oil pollution, the Spanish authorities have had the anti-pollution vessel Don Inda (recovered oil storage capacity 1800 tonnes) positioned in the bay since 13th August. They have also laid 2000 metres of inflatable boom, 2000 metres of absorbent boom and two current buster booms, although there has been no pollution to date. However, today, they decided that EMSA should be contacted to provide assistance.

Source: http://emsa.europa.eu/ennews20070903101748.html

• Government of Gibraltar Press Release from August 31:

The small amount of substances found yesterday floating in the sea two miles west of the New Flame is not fuel oil. There is no evidence that the substance emanated from the New Flame, which is protected by anti-pollution booms, and the salvers believe that it did not emanate from the New Flame. Notwithstanding this, since part of the precautionary resources that have been deployed include an anti pollution equipped vessel permanently on station (with search lights at night), this vessel attended to the spraying of dispersant on the substance.

The Government notes reports in the Spanish press that the intervention of a Spanish anti-pollution vessel was requested to help deal with this incident. This is untrue, although in the context of the close co-operation that exists between Gibraltar and Spanish Authorities in these shipping and environmental matters, the Gibraltar Government would not hesitate to call upon Spanish assistance if it were necessary or prudent.

It would be irresponsible for Spanish environmental lobby groups to jump on bandwagons and automatically point the finger at the New Flame for all current pollution events in this vicinity, particular given the high level of resources, vigilance and expertise constantly deployed at the location of the New Flame.

The Government is completely satisfied with the method and rate of the defuelling operation. It must be understood, especially by those who comment on such matters that it is precisely to reduce the risk of pollution incidents that defuelling operations are suspended during adverse weather conditions. Given the current strong easterly winds, defuelling was again interrupted to-day and will be resumed as soon as conditions improve.

The Gibraltar Government will continue, through public statements, and liaison with Spanish Authorities and press, to keep public opinion in Gibraltar and in Spain fully informed of events and developments relating to the complex and delicate operation being undertaken.

Source: http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/latest_news/press_releases/2007/196-2007.pdf

• Photos of the Accident:

o One of the salvage tugs: http://maritime-executive.com/photos/New_Flame_Salvage_Boat.jpg
o Damage to the Torm Gertrude: http://maritime-executive.com/photos/torm_gertrude.jpg
o Sinking New Flame: http://maritime-executive.com/photos/New_Flame_Sinking.jpg

All Photos © DM Parody (http://dotcom.gi/photos)