Charges for Tanker Owner after Vessel Sinking

The White Whale was raised by the crane barge Emlaq - source, Gulf News.

Federal and local authorities in the sovereign emirate of the UAE, Umm Al Quwain (UAQ), report that the 60-meter-long tanker, The White Whale leaked a heavy payload of diesel fuel when it sank 25 kilometres off the coast in October of last year according to today's Gulf News.

No estimates were given with respect to the ecological damage to marine life as a result of between 450 and 1,000 tonnes of diesel fuel leaking from the ship's hold onto the Umm Al Quwain reef and shoreline.

The vessel sank to a depth of 35 metres on October 22, 2011 where it laid until being raised by the crane barge Emlaq and a team of 10 divers and heavy equipment operators in June 2012.

Gulf News reported on June 15 at the raising of the vessel, that Batar Al Shamasi, owner of Dubai Ship Building and Engineering said, "Finally we have finished the project successfully. There were no leaks."

The article went on to say all the fuel was still contained inside the ship and could be removed safely without harm to the environment.

Public Prosecutor Rafhid Jumaa, told Gulf News on Monday that his office had received information from the Ministry of the Environment and Water alleging the ship's holds were empty after it was raised.

Further Mr. Jumaa indicated in the article that the tanker owner and captain face up to five formal charges including the Ajman-based shipping company put the lives of the nine-member crew at risk when the ship foundered in heavy seas, senior officials with the company didn't take the necessary precautions to limit pollution from contaminating the environment, The White Whale entered UAE waters without paperwork, the vessel was an improper oil transport ship and, it did not have the proper certificate to carry diesel.

All charges are expected to be entered at the UAQ court on Tuesday.

There had been reports in the Gulf News in February that commercial fishermen had seen oil slicks in the area.

At the time, anglers said that the sight of dead fish in the water was becoming more commonplace and they blamed the shipwreck for the losses.

The estimated cost of raising the vessel is Dh3 million ($817,000) and is being covered by the Ministry of Environment and Water which has not publicly said whether it will pursue the owners of the tanker for damages.