Ten days ago, a ferry ran aground off the Swedish coast. Today the “Marco Polo” was towed free. She had lost 25,000 liters of heavy oil – hundreds of seabirds are at risk of dying.
The images have been circulating in the Swedish media for days. Images of oil-polluted beaches and seabirds. Several hundred volunteers have now come forward to clear oil from around 20 kilometers of coastline in the south of the country.
A laborious job that can only be carried out in protective suits. Now the criticism is growing. Also in the behavior of the German shipping company, including local resident Lars Nilsson. “The shipping company has simply remained silent,” he said on Swedish television TV 4. They are completely inaccessible to the media and anyone who has questions for them. “This is pathetic. They should take responsibility for their actions or at least cover the cost of all the volunteers who signed up for the coastal restoration work.”
Ferry lost 25,000 liters of heavy fuel oil
Within sight of the polluted beaches. The car and passenger ferry “Marco Polo”, which ran aground off the Swedish coast on Sunday a week ago on its way from Travemünde to Klaipeda. And not just once. The crew had apparently tried to continue the journey after initially touching the ground, but then ran aground again a few kilometers further.
According to Swedish information, the 30-year-old ship lost at least 25,000 liters of heavy oil. The rescue of the ferry began this morning. The Swedish coast guard and two tug boats are on site.
“The ‘Marco Polo’ will be taken by two tug boats to deeper water, where it will anchor and be examined for further damage,” said Valdemar Lindekranz, the spokesman for the Swedish Coast Guard on Swedish radio this morning. “We haven’t been able to inspect the entire hull yet. Then we’ll empty the remaining tanks.”
This photo from October 23 shows the clean-up work at the Spraglehall nature reserve in Krokas, Sweden. The helpers also free animals from the oil.
Helpers free animals from oil
According to Swedish television, oil has apparently leaked again during the maneuver off the coast. Hundreds of seabirds are now at risk of dying. Helpers have been busy cleaning the animals for days.
Tents and several tubs have been set up in a warehouse. Here, too, we work with protective suits and breathing masks. Ulrike Daugard is one of them. “It hurts, really bad,” she says. “I hope someone is held accountable for this.”
The effort and costs for cleaning are enormous. For a single swan, it takes four people around three hours to completely remove the oil from the feathers. It’s a race against time, says another helper. “You wonder how long this will take and how many people will have to help to get it removed. You can’t just drive around with an excavator.”
Recovery will probably take years
The long-term consequences cannot yet be foreseen, says Arne Nilsson from the Birds and Wildlife disaster relief agency. “We have such beautiful beaches along the coast that we may not be allowed to swim there for the next ten years.”
Swedish politicians are now also involved in the case. A few days ago, Civil Protection Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari traveled to the coast of Blekinge. “As Environment Minister, I will of course keep an eye on ensuring that the environment there can recover,” said Pourmokhtari. “It’s certainly going to be a long road given the damage that’s been done.”
The crew of the “Marco Polo” is now under investigation. Two members have already been fined for reckless behavior in shipping. An interview request from ARD about the accident was not answered by the shipping company by midday.