Most Oil Removed from Grounded Bulk Carrier Off Gibraltar

The majority of oil has been removed from the grounded bulk carrier OS 35 off of Gibraltar and the operation is now moving to the recovery phase, according to today’s update from the Gibraltar Port Authority.

Efforts continue to cleanup and prevent the spread of escaped oil, including impacts to nearby beaches and wildlife.

The Tuvalu-flagged OS 35 was outbound from Gibraltar Port when it collided with the unladen LNG carrier Adam LNG in the Bay of Gibraltar on Monday, August 29. The OS 35 was then anchored off Catalan Bay, on the opposite side of Iberian Peninsula, where it partially sank.

The vessel later suffered a break in its hull. A survey inspection of the vessel before it broke confirmed a gash amidships measuring approximately 10 meters by 4 meters on the starboard side.

OS 35 is loaded with steel bars and was reportedly carrying over 220 metric tons of low sulphur fuel oil and 255 metric tons of diesel when it grounded.

Tests are being conducted to determine how much, if any, remnant oil remains in the ship’s tanks and whether any more oil can be extracted.

The Adam LNG, which is registered in the Marshall Islands, sustained only minimal damage.

The Captain of the Port and the Gibraltar Contingency Council declared a Major Incident under the Civil Contingencies Act to free up more resources to respond to the incident, however this level of response has been stood down as the operation moves from emergency response to recovery.

Meanwhile, the Captain of the Port is considering the re-opening of regular port operations on Wednesday should the situation allow.

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