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Following the sinking of the Italian ship Grande America , 333 km off the French town of La Rochelle, an oil slick is now heading towards the coasts of New Aquitaine. The authorities fear an oil spill.
It was already known that the Great America , which sank earlier this week in the Atlantic off France as it reached Casablanca from Hamburg, was carrying dangerous goods and 2,200 tons of heavy fuel oil in its bunkers. This is now the main concern of the authorities.
" During the flight this afternoon over the Great America shipwreck zone by the Navy's Atlantic 2 maritime patrol aircraft , an oil slick was located ", said in the evening of Wednesday the Maritime prefecture of the Atlantic in a statement.
In a press conference, the maritime prefect specified that the ship was carrying " 365 containers, 45 of which are listed as containing dangerous substances and a little more than 2,000 vehicles ". But to add that his main concern is the tons of heavy fuel oil in the cargo hold.
► To re-read: 2200 tons of fuel onboard the Great America
[#GreatAmerica] #ConferenceDePresse #PrefetMaritime We will lead the third phase of this major crisis with the same determination, with the same pugnacity as during the rescue and then assistance to the ship. #GreatAmerica @SGMer @NationalMarine @Min_Ecology @douane_france pic.twitter.com/Svbfu2mubV
Premar Atlantic (@premaratlant) March 13, 2019" Delicate clean-up operations at sea "
On rough seas, with waves of 4 to 6 meters currently, the water table extends, according to the last aerial observations but also those of the building of support and chartered assistance (BSAA) VN Sapeur in the zone, about ten kilometers long and one kilometer wide, more than 200 km from the coast.
Vice-Admiral Jean-Louis Lozier, Atlantic Maritime Prefect, ordered the departure from Brest of a ship specialized in the fight against pollution, the Argonaute BSAA. He was supposed to arrive at his destination on Thursday morning. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) was also requested.
Paris is worried. " According to our forecasts, fragments could reach certain areas of the coasts of New Aquitaine by Sunday or Monday, because of a particularly unfavorable weather, which also risks making the operations of depollution at sea more delicate ", relates the Minister of Ecology.
François de Rugy said that France will deploy four ships specializing in the fight against pollution at sea, and is preparing for the implementation of a plan to clean up land. On Wednesday, the prefect again called on the shipowner, Grimaldi Group, summoned to face his responsibilities.
[#GrandeAmerica] The multi-mission frigate (FREMM) Aquitaine and the BSAA (Chartered Support and Assistance Building) VN Sapeur are still on zone. They continue to provide security and surveillance of navigation. @SGMer @NationalMarine pic.twitter.com/rz98mZlf8B
Premar Atlantic (@premaratlant) March 12, 2019" Hundreds of tons of toxic materials "
While their ship, a hybrid between ro-ro and 214-meter container ship, sank by 4,600 meters of water after a violent fire - which may also complicate pumping operations - the 27 The occupants of the ship - 26 crew members and one passenger - are unharmed.
A hundred tons of hydrochloric acid and 70 tons of sulfuric acid were on board the Great America . Vice-Admiral Lozier is reassuring, speaking of a "very localized" pollution without gravity, because of the " dilution in the ocean space " and the fact that these materials have already greatly burned.
In parallel with the notice of the shipowner, the public prosecutor opened an investigation. A French association, the Robin Hood , has announced its intention to file a complaint for pollution and waste disposal at the Brest High Court in Brittany.
" 2,000 vehicles is a car crash at the bottom of the sea representing hundreds of tons of toxic materials in an area rich in fish, plankton and marine mammals ", deplores including Jacky Bonnemains, spokesman for the NGO , from Agence France-Presse.
#TDInfos @FdeRugy Shipwreck of the "Great America": "It's a boat that was more than 20 years old, which is not considered to be out of date for a merchant ship." pic.twitter.com/34RUtsdj59
Public Senate (@publicsenat) March 14, 2019" We absolutely have to strengthen all the controls "
Yannick Jadot, head of the list of the party Ecology Europe-Greens for the European elections, denounced this Thursday morning on France 2 " the laxity that there is often around shipping ". " The international maritime body is trusted by all flags of convenience, " he accuses.
According to him, they " constantly try to fight down against all the rules at once social, security, environment ". And to appeal for EU intervention: " From the moment a ship arrives at a European port, it is essential to reinforce all controls. "
François de Rugy replied in particular that a European Maritime Safety Agency had been created and that the EU is in the process of " imposing on international maritime transport, at least all the ships that will come to European ports, from change engine to no longer use this heavy fuel .