A Liberian chemical tanker, the “K ONSET,” has caused a significant fuel spill in the port of Ceuta, raising concerns about environmental damage. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, is the largest fuel spill ever recorded in Ceuta’s waters.
An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 liters of fuel oil leaked from a crack in one of the tanker’s fuel tanks during a bunkering operation at the Levante dock.
Fortunately, a westerly wind prevented the spilled fuel from reaching the beaches of Ceuta.
The Ceuta Port Authority quickly activated its emergency response plan, mobilizing all available resources by 8:00 pm. The spill was contained within the arcades at the end of the Alfau dock.
The “K ONSET,” built in 2006, arrived in Ceuta from Vilagarcía de Arousa, Spain, earlier that day. Captain Sierra believes the crack in the fuel tank likely occurred during the voyage and went undetected until bunkering began.
Containment efforts focused on deploying anti-pollution barriers and collecting as much spilled fuel as possible before changing weather patterns could disperse it further. Several port service companies are currently working on decontamination.
While efforts to contain the spill were successful by 10:00 pm, environmental concerns remain.
A local environmental group, Septem Nostra, told the SER network in Ceuta, that even though the spill was contained, the risk of water contamination remains. This contamination could harm marine life and the various species living along Ceuta’s coast.
Recovery operations are ongoing, with teams working to determine the exact amount of spilled fuel and assess any environmental damage.
The “K ONSET” has been relocated within the port to facilitate repairs. The incident did not disrupt regular port operations, nor were there any immediate reports of damage to third parties.
However, the Ceuta Port Authority has detained the vessel pending further investigation. This includes assessing the damage caused by the spill to determine the appropriate penalty and ensure the government recovers the costs of containment and cleanup.
