After a collision between two ships: Oil streaks reach the beaches of Gibraltar

Oil barriers and pumping out of fuel could not prevent it: After the ship collision off Gibraltar, the first oil streaks appeared on the beaches. Environmentalists warn of serious consequences.

After the collision of two ships off Gibraltar, experts have already pumped out 80 percent of the diesel on board the grounded freighter. The government of the British Overseas Territory announced this on Twitter. The bulk carrier transports a total of 492 tons of fuel and lubricants.

Slicks of oil reached some beaches

Despite the oil booms being deployed, streaks of oil reached some of Gibraltar’s beaches, as photos from the local broadcaster GBC show. Oil was also washed up on the beach in the town of La Línea de La Concepción in Andalusia, the mayor of the municipality said on Spanish television. Environmentalists warn of serious consequences if all the fuel is not pumped out soon.

Freighter crew arrested

A crew member of the freighter was arrested according to the police. According to media reports, which a spokesman for the Gibraltar government initially did not confirm, it is said to be the captain of the ship that sails under the flag of the island state of Tuvalu in the Indian Ocean. The head of government of Gibraltar, Fabián Picardo, told the Spanish TV station RTVE that the captain had defied the port captain’s orders.

Freighter run aground

The freighter had collided with a tanker late Monday evening for an unknown reason and was then grounded in front of a beach. The hull of the ship is unstable, it continues to threaten to break in two. The salvage of the wreck could take weeks, stressed the government of Gibraltar.