Bunker Spill at UK Port

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday October 28, 2014

Clean up is underway at Warrenpoint Harbour in Northern Ireland after a bunker spill was discovered, local media outlet Belfast Telegraph reports.

100 litres of heavy fuel oil was said to have been discharged from a vessel at the harbour last Wednesday.

"A full team of employees trained in oil spill response was immediately put in place and the area around the ship was secured and oil spill booms and absorbent pads were deployed," said a spokesman for the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA).

"With the rising tide some oil has been detected along the shore adjacent to Barrow Water and this area is being cleaned and the oil residue removed as part of the emergency plan."

According to the report the clean up effort was being carried out round-the-clock to limit damage to the area.

"The Harbour Authority sincerely regrets that this incident has occurred and assures the public that all efforts are being made to make good the situation," said Peter Conway, the WHA Chief Executive.

"I am satisfied that the fast implementation of the Harbour Authority emergency plan in association with the various Government agencies has ensured that this spill was contained within a relatively small area."

The Filipino government was recently criticised for its handling of oil spill compensation rules following bunker spills in the country's waters.