Two security sources confirmed that Tunisian authorities increased their efforts on Saturday (16/04) to avoid environmental disasters after a merchant fuel boat carrying one thousand tonnes of fuel sank off Gabes coast on Friday.
Sources said that the Tunisian navy had saved all seven crew members of the ship, which was headed from Equatorial Guinea towards Malta. They also sent a distress call seven-miles away from the southern city Gabes.
Saturday saw the sinking of a tanker laden with 750 tons of diesel fuel. #TunisiaA local court stated that the southeast coast is covered.
The ship was found in Tunisian territorial waters and it sank this morning. Mohamed Karray, a court spokesperson, said that there is no leak at the moment.
pic.twitter.com/u8QbWZYu17— Mete Sohtaolu (@metesohtaoglu) April 16, 2022
According to the environment ministry, bad weather was the cause of the accident. They also stated that water had seeped into ship and reached a height of two metres.
The ministry stated in a statement that authorities were working to prevent an environmental catastrophe and minimize any impact.
It stated that barriers would have to be put up to stop the spread of fuel, and cordon off the ship before suctioning the spillage.
The coast of Gabes has been subject to significant pollution for many years. Environmental organizations claim that industrial plants have been dumping waste directly into seawater.
Since July 2021, the ship has been flying an Equatorial Guiana flag under the name XELO. It was previously Russia-flagged, until July 2021, under the name Liman.
(Edited and authored by Georgi Gotev