Israel Clears Oil Spill Links in Beaches, Expands Investigation to More Ships
Turtle with petroleum
WMN..A team of investigators led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Israel has expanded the investigation into the recent oil spill to dozens of vessels.
Initial estimates indicate that 160 kilometres of Israel’s coastline have been stained by tar as clean-up efforts continue.
As of 23 February 2021, 1,000 m3 of tar balls have already been collected from Israeli beaches, according to the IMO-administered Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC).
“At the start of the tar event that has plagued Israeli beaches, the ministry identified about 10 ships as potentially suspicious. It has since expanded the investigation to include dozens of vessels. To date, MoEP has inspected about 10 ships, and is continuing to inspect other ships. We will the public as the investigation progresses,” the ministry said in an update.
The vessels have been identified with the help of the satellite imagery and Authentication Information System (AIS) data, provided by the EMSA Maritime Support Service.
Separately, one of the first vessels which had been linked to the spill, Minerva Helen, has been cleared from involvement in the incident.
On 21 February 2021, Minerva Helen was named as one of several suspect vessels due to her proximity to Israel, while drifting in the area.
However, the owner of the vessel denied the claims referring to an investigation carried out by the Spanish Port State Control Authorities in Cartagena, which found no deficiencies to the vessel.
The shipowner also insisted that the tanker was not involved in any operation ‘that could be connected to an oil discharge at sea.’..reports World Maritime News.
Initial estimates indicate that 160 kilometres of Israel’s coastline have been stained by tar as clean-up efforts continue.
As of 23 February 2021, 1,000 m3 of tar balls have already been collected from Israeli beaches, according to the IMO-administered Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC).
“At the start of the tar event that has plagued Israeli beaches, the ministry identified about 10 ships as potentially suspicious. It has since expanded the investigation to include dozens of vessels. To date, MoEP has inspected about 10 ships, and is continuing to inspect other ships. We will the public as the investigation progresses,” the ministry said in an update.
The vessels have been identified with the help of the satellite imagery and Authentication Information System (AIS) data, provided by the EMSA Maritime Support Service.
Separately, one of the first vessels which had been linked to the spill, Minerva Helen, has been cleared from involvement in the incident.
On 21 February 2021, Minerva Helen was named as one of several suspect vessels due to her proximity to Israel, while drifting in the area.
However, the owner of the vessel denied the claims referring to an investigation carried out by the Spanish Port State Control Authorities in Cartagena, which found no deficiencies to the vessel.
The shipowner also insisted that the tanker was not involved in any operation ‘that could be connected to an oil discharge at sea.’..reports World Maritime News.
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