Americas News
Clean Up Underway After Spill at Port of Santos During Bunkering Operation
Clean up operations were underway after the bulk carrier Shao Shan 5 spilled an unspecified amount of HFO during a bunkering operation at Brazil's Port of Santos Monday, local media reports.
The 75,700 DWT vessel, which is understood to be operated by Cosco Hunan International Freight Co., Ltd. (Cosco), is reported to have been in the process of being bunkered from the terminal when the hose disconnected at about at 7:15 a.m., spilling fuel onto the ship deck and into the water.
One local source quoted Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), which is noted to have been providing services to the ship at the wharf of Santos, as saying human error resulted in some 30 liters of HFO being accidentally thrown overboard during the incident.
Although local and port authorities are noted to have taken immediate action to contain the spill, the leak is said to have been carried by a strong current, spreading around the berthing area and into the Santos Channel and to the shore.
Booms are reported to have been deployed, and rescue boats with pollution cleaning equipment were dispatched to assist in the clean up operation.
Representatives from the Brazilian Environmental Institute (Ibama) and the Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental (CETESB) are said to be assessing the impacts of the spill.
Earlier this week, Ship & Bunker reported that Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) would begin selling RMK500 at Santos.
