Mayor “confident” tanker can be safely repaired at sea
The mayor of Viana do Castelo said today that he is confident of the safe repair of the tanker carrying more than 150,000 litres of diesel, which has broken down 36.6 kilometres off the coast.
“The National Maritime Authority (AMN) has given us every assurance that there are no risks. We have to trust the authorities that have direct responsibility”, Luís Nobre told Lusa. “The municipality is attentive and will be a partner in any eventuality or request that may arise”.
In a statement sent to the media when the tanker broke down last week, the Maritime Authority and the Navy explained that the ship – flying the flag of the Marshall Islands (Oceania) – suffered a “breakdown in its engine, leaving it without propulsion”, with the vessel more than 24 nautical miles (36.6 kilometres) away from the coast of Viana do Castelo.
The repairs began on Thursday, with a team of technicians being flown in. The work is expected to continue this week, so that the ship can continue its journey to Le Havre in Normandy (France).
Today, the Socialist mayor said it was a “complex” intervention – because it is taking place “in the middle of the sea rather than at a dock”, but “these are incidents that happen in other geographies (…) there are specialised teams (in place) and planned interventions so that the repair can be carried out safely at all levels, particularly the environment, which is one of the main concerns,” he said.
The Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Lisboa) learnt almost a week ago to the existence, off the coast of Viana do Castelo, of an oil tanker without propulsion. The situation led to “a proactive coordinated response by the Navy with the National Maritime Authority to monitor the situation of the Nissos Rhenia, flying the Marshall Islands flag, which is carrying more than 150,000 litres of diesel, is more than 330 metres long and has a beam of 60 metres“.
The Navy sent the NRP António Enes, a corvette with the mission of surveillance, search and rescue, to the position of the drifting ship.
“When it arrived on the scene, it acted immediately, carrying out the necessary actions to support the tanker, namely contacting the ship, monitoring navigation in the area and preserving the safety of all ships in the vicinity,” the AMN stated.
Towing/ securing began on Thursday and the ship, with 28 crew members, will remain off the coast, in this situation, until the fault is repaired.
Source: LUSA
