- The Equatorial Guinea-flagged oil tanker, Xelo, which sank on April 16 th in the Gulf of Gabes along Tunisia, have been checked and found to have minimal leaks putting at rest fears of an environmental disaster due to oil spill.
The Equatorial Guinea-flagged oil tanker, Xelo, which sank on April 16 th in the Gulf of Gabes along Tunisia, have been checked and found to have minimal leaks putting at rest fears of an environmental disaster due to oil spill. According to a government spokesman, no oil spill has been detected and the oil has started to evaporate.Urgent efforts are on to pump out the vessel’s tanks.
Rabie El Majidi, Tunisian Minister of Transport stated that rescue workers had checked the valves and found them intact. The minister added that an Italian ship specialised in cleaning up marine pollution will be deputed to aid the efforts.
The tanker carrying around 750-1000 mt of diesel sailing from Egypt to Malta sank off the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia. It was feared that the sunk ship may release up to 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil into the water. The crew of the Xelo had issued a distress call on April 15 th evening seeking shelter in Tunisian waters from bad weather. Seven crew members were evacuated by Tunisian authorities. The Turkish-operated vessel was built in 1977.
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