Rotterdam says "considerable" fuel oil spilled in harbour
24/06/2018 15:48
AMSTERDAM, June 24 (Reuters) - The Port of Rotterdam said on
Sunday a clean-up operation was underway after an oil freighter
punctured its hull while mooring, releasing a "considerable"
amount of heavy fuel oil.
Odfjell ODF.OL , the owner of the freighter Bow Jubail,
said in a statement the ship had lost 220 tons of heavy fuel oil
in the incident, which took place Saturday afternoon.
Rotterdam Port said in a statement much of that amount had
initially been contained with shields, but some escaped and was
leaking into various arteries of the expansive harbour's
waterways.
"Experts expect that clean-up work will take days if not
weeks," the port said.
According to the Netherlands' Sea Creatures Rescue Team,
several environmental groups and volunteers were working to save
as many as 1,000 birds that were covered in the oil as a result.
Rotterdam said it would hold Odfjell responsible for
damages. Odjfell said in a separate statement it is assisting in
"mitigating actions."
"The vessel is insured by the P&I club GARD who has also
mobilized resources" for the clean-up effort, the company said
in a statement published on its website.
Dutch authorities were investigating the incident, and
Odjfell said it is conducting its own internal investigation.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Toby Chopra)
((toby.sterling@thomsonreuters.com; +31 20 504 5002;))