Marine pollution detected, Polmar land plan activated



The oil slick off Aleria. – NATIONAL NAVY / AFP

The prefect of Haute-Corse announced this Saturday that he had activated the Polmar-Terre plan, dedicated to the protection of the coast, after the detection of oil pollution at sea in the east of Corsica, about 10 km from the coast. This pollution, containing heavy hydrocarbons, is divided into two slicks over a length of about 19 nautical miles (about 35 kilometers). It is located in the Aleria-Solenzara sector and drifts towards the coast, said the maritime prefecture of the Mediterranean in a press release.

It “probably results from degassing, but the size and nature of the products do not allow us to hope for a natural dilution and require the engagement of specific antipollution units and equipment,” the same source said. The prefect of Haute-Corse calls on the populations “not to touch or proceed by themselves to collect the pancakes that they may be likely to find on the beaches” but to inform the gendarmerie or the firefighters of their presence.

Pollution spotted on Friday

The pollution was spotted around noon on Friday during an exercise conducted by the Solenzara air base. The Mediterranean maritime prefecture immediately dispatched a Falcon50 aircraft from the French Navy. The latter took photos which made it possible to characterize the nature, location and size of this pollution. These first elements were then confirmed by the visual observations of the customs star “Libecciu”, based in Bastia, who took samples in the area.

“National resources stationed in Corsica are mobilized to intervene as quickly as possible. The situation is monitored in collaboration with the mayors ”, specified the prefecture of Haute-Corse. A “Mimosa” maritime affairs boat carrying personnel from the Aspretto naval base and the tug “Altagna” of the Erasme company based in Bastia must go there this Saturday morning to carry out control operations by trawling.

Two chartered support and assistance vessels (BSAA), “Pioneer” and “Jason”, based in Toulon are also expected in the area this Saturday “with specific antipollution equipment and specialized personnel from the antipollution cell of the naval base of Toulon ”.



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