Turkish-owned product tanker K Onset (IMO 9359595) was reported to have leaked up to 30,000 litres of fuel in the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta last Tuesday April 30th after arriving from Villagarcia, Spain.
Fran Sierra, the port captain for Ceuta, one of only two Spanish ports in Africa and a vital link in Mediterranean traffic, told reporters that the port received a report of an oil leak from the K Onset on Tuesday evening April 30th, and that they immediately mobilized a containment effort.
He said that the leak was contained within a couple of hours through the deployment of two containment booms and one absorbent boom. Westerly winds helped to contain the spill. Throughout Wednesday teams could be seen with absorbents mopping up the fuel.
The port captain said he believed that at least 85% of the spill was recovered. According to the port authority, the fuel spill occurred during a bunkering operation by the vessel at the Levante dock. The latest estimate is that the vessel leaked between 25,000 and 30,000 litres of a light marine fuel from a crack that measured 32cm in one of the fuel tanks.
Sierra described the incident as the biggest-ever oil spill in the enclave. The K Onset was now being detained at the port and it was ordered to pump all the fuel from the cracked tank. The port captain said the tank would be vented and then examined and that they would require repairs before the vessel departs.
In addition, the port is demanding a deposit of €72,000 ($77,000) consisting of €60,000 in fines and €12,000 toward the clean-up costs. The final fine is yet to be determined but media reports said it will be at least €200,000 to €250,000.
Port officials in Ceuta acknowledged that this was the third incident this year, although it emphasized that the prior two events were much smaller. Media reports said in mid-February, a Panama-flagged Ro-Ro cargo vessel, the Lider Trabzon (IMO 9006112) had to pay €136,000 after another oil spill. Last week, a general cargo ship registered in Gibraltar, the Schillplate (3,175 dwt) also caused a small spill in the port.
2006-built, Liberia-flagged, 8,450 gt K Onset is owned by T-Ships Ltd care of Borealis Tanker Kiralama AS of Istanbul, Turkiye. ISM manager is Chemfleet of Istanbul, Turkiye. As of May 5th the vessel was moored at Ceuta.
1991-built, Panama-flagged, 11,854 gt Lider Trabzon is owned by Orange Shipping Co care of manager Samsun Shipping Ltd of Samsun, Turkiye.
2009-built, Gibraltar-flagged, 2,415 gt Schillplate is owned by Briese Chartering GmbH care of manager Briese Schiffahrts GmbH of Leer, Germany.
