Fuel Spill??

cyrusdvirus

An oil spillage off the south coast is now known to be at least three times larger than previously reported.

The Department of Transport and Marine estimates that 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil is currently floating around 43 nautical miles south of the Fastnet lighthouse.


It was reported yesterday that 300 tonnes had been spilled, but the revision upwards follows aerial surveillance involving specialised sonar.

AdvertisementThe Coast Guard says the slick is moving around 12 miles a day, and heading towards the southeast and could land on the Wexford coast within 16 days.

The Russian Navy has admitted that two of its vessels refuelled near the site of the incident, but denied they were responsible.

Aerial surveillance yesterday found that an oil spill surrounded a Russian aircraft carrier and a refuelling tanker.

A navy spokesman told Reuters this morning there had not been an accident onboard, nor deliberate dumping of fuel overboard.

Igor Dygalo disputed the size of the oil spill, saying it neither 'has a catastrophic character nor constitutes a threat to coastal ecology'.


While some of the oil will evaporate or dissolve, a lot of oil remains on the water.

The Coast Guard is to send a tug from Cork in a bid to assess if it is possible to recover some of the oil on the water. A tanker is available in Cork to carry out the work if required.

However, the spokesman said the international experience of such work 'was not high', particularly after the oil has been on the water for some days and spread.

Spraying the oil, in order to break-up the slick, needed to happen within 12 hours to have any chances of success.

The Coast Guard is monitoring the situation, and a statement from the Department of Transport and Marine is due this afternoon.

According to the Coast Guard, vessels currently on the scene include two refuelling tankers, one Russian aircraft carrier, one Russian tug, one Russian destroyer, one British destroyer and the LÉ Aisling

Morpheus

They denied it was them after having been spotted floating in the middle of it WHILE refueling damn ruskies.

BrianD

Time to get the CASA's to do a few over flights over the Russian carrier group.

neilled

BrianD wrote: »

Time to get the CASA's to do a few over flights over the Russian carrier froup.

Yeah, that'll scare em.......

BrianD

neilled wrote: »

Yeah, that'll scare em.......

Probably won't but gather the evidence and let them know that we're bothered.

diverdriver

Time for them to admit it and take responsibility for cleaning it up. They probably won't given the Russian record of opacity in all things.

Imagine the furore if this was an American carrier group. All the usual suspects would be out in force. The deafening silence is noticeable.

Tenger

diverdriver wrote: »

Time for them to admit it and take responsibility for cleaning it up. They probably won't given the Russian record of opacity in all things.

Imagine the furore if this was an American carrier group. All the usual suspects would be out in force. The deafening silence is noticeable.

Hear hear!

From RTE:
"The Russian Navy has admitted that two of its vessels refuelled near the site of the incident, but denied it was responsible.
The department [of Defense] said aerial surveillance on Saturday confirmed the spill surrounding a Russian aircraft carrier and a refuelling tanker.
A Russian Navy spokesman said there had not been an accident on board, or deliberate dumping of fuel overboard"

It must have magically appeared near the poor Russians!


Am wondering were the 2 subs (HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant) trailing the Adm.Kuznetzov when they collided? Am sure the 'allies' would like to keep tabs on a Russian carrier in their backyard.


Feb 16-"up to 300 tonnes of oil spilled into the sea about 80km south of Fastnet lighthouse "
Feb 3/4-"collided in the mid–Atlantic Ocean. "

cyrusdvirus

Time for them to admit it and take responsibility for cleaning it up. They probably won't given the Russian record of opacity in all things.

According to the Irish Times yesterday warships are exempt from prosecution for this kinda thing.

The incident occurred outside Irish territorial waters and warships have immunity from prosecution in such circumstances, according to the Government’s legal advice.

Imagine the furore if this was an American carrier group. All the usual suspects would be out in force. The deafening silence is noticeable.

Very true. But considering the usual suspects who organise those ridiculous marches are usually of the socialist variety, and the Kusnetsov and her group are one small time step away from flying a communist flag they are all brothers in arms against the imperialist capitalist aggressors!!

BrianD

diverdriver wrote: »

Imagine the furore if this was an American carrier group. All the usual suspects would be out in force. The deafening silence is noticeable.

This is nonsense! Why is the deafening silence noticeable???

Having said that the Americans are possibly more likely to admit responsibility and thus would attract an outcry. Rightly so if they have polluted. It seems unlikely that the Russians will.

It seems that this ship is a bit of a rust bucket "According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies the Admiral Kuznetsov is routinely followed by two tugs in case of breakdown"

Tabnabs

The aerial surveillance flights carried out by the UK Coastguard have indicated that in their opinion, using various specialist sensors onboard their aircraft indicate that the spill is up to 1000 tonnes of fuel oil. Estimates of oil quantity in water are highly difficult to estimate, as slick thickness can be variable over the length of the slick and therefore difficult to accurately gauge. Today’s over flight by the specialist UK aircraft is expected to further refine this estimate.

Vessels on scene at the moment include two refuelling tankers, one aircraft carrier, one Russian ocean-going tug, one Russian destroyer, one British destroyer and Irish Naval vessel L.E. Aisling. It is believed the Russian Task Group may leave the area tomorrow having completed refuelling operations.

http://www.transport.ie/pressRelease.aspx?Id=52

BrianD

According to de papers, our Russian friends have 'fessed up.

Looking at the photos ... it's not a very impressive 'fleet', is it?

One would have thought that if they were doing a 'show of force' that there would be more evidence of a "battle group".

cyrusdvirus

BrianD wrote: »

According to de papers, our Russian friends have 'fessed up.

Looking at the photos ... it's not a very impressive 'fleet', is it?

One would have thought that if they were doing a 'show of force' that there would be more evidence of a "battle group".

The Kiznetsov is still plenty big to blow the Irish Navy out of the water. And don't forget, there are launch tubes for Shipwreck misiles under her flightdeck. One of them will ruin your whole day, no matter what ship you are in

BrianD

gatecrash wrote: »

The Kiznetsov is still plenty big to blow the Irish Navy out of the water. And don't forget, there are launch tubes for Shipwreck misiles under her flightdeck. One of them will ruin your whole day, no matter what ship you are in

That's if it doesn't break down first ...

fade2che

Anyone know the location of the slicks now, or status? No information from Department of Transport since the 17th Feb.