The sinking off the coast of Greenland of a boat containing up to 20,000 litres of diesel has caused an oil spill that firefighters are trying to contain in nearby fjords, police in the autonomous Danish territory announced on Friday.
“Oil films are visible on the water surface in the Nanortalik fjords due to a leak from the ship Adolf Jensenwhich sank yesterday morning” after hitting rocks during the night from Wednesday to Thursday, the police detailed in a statement sent to AFP.
The Nanortalik fjords are located in the south of the huge island of Greenland.
All those on board were able to be evacuated during the sinking.
THE Adolf Jensena 30-metre-long cruise ship flying the Greenlandic flag and capable of carrying up to 12 passengers, contained between 15,000 and 20,000 litres of diesel in its tank, plus 1,000 litres of petrol.
Despite the immediate deployment of a pump and a floating boom within a 50-metre perimeter around the incident area, “an oil spill occurred in the fjord” due to “problems related to tides, wind and sea currents”, the police said in its statement, which added that the firefighters had received additional equipment to contain the leak.
The Danish Navy’s Arctic Command has also been asked to help by the Ministries of Civil Protection and Environment to recover and treat the spilled diesel.
All people and vessels in the area have been advised by police to “exercise caution and navigate slowly to minimise disturbance in the water”.
Contacted by AFP, Rasmus Chr. Rasmussen, CEO of 60 North, owner of the ship Adolf Jensendeclined to comment. “I have no comment, I don’t know what happened. I have to talk to the police and my crew,” he said.