Vessel sinks off Greenland coast, major fuel spill averted
On Thursday morning, a severe incident occurred off the southern coast of Greenland. A 100-foot vessel transporting significant amounts of fuel in its tanks sank near the town of Nanortalik. Local services immediately took action to prevent an ecological disaster.
According to information provided by the newspaper "Sermitsiaq," the ship was carrying approximately 3,300-4,400 imperial gallons of diesel oil and 220 imperial gallons of motor oil. At around 03:00 GMT, the Greenland police received a report about the vessel's collision with a reef. Thanks to a quick rescue operation, the four-person crew of the ship was safely evacuated.
The vessel eventually sank shortly after 07:00 GMT, prompting the services to take immediate preventive measures. Special protective barriers were set up around the sinking site to prevent a potential fuel spill. According to a police statement, the protections encompass a circle with a diameter of approximately 55 yards, extending 1.5 feet below the water's surface.
Details of the incident and preventive actions
According to police findings, the ship was heading to the port of Qaqortoq when it hit an underwater reef at 01:45 GMT. The collision damaged the hull, resulting in the vessel taking on water. Despite attempts to save the ship, it could not be prevented from sinking.
The fire brigade is actively working at the scene, focusing on removing the oil spill. The services' priority is to minimise environmental damage that may be caused by releasing significant amounts of fuel into the waters surrounding Greenland.
