It has been nearly three months since the fuel tanker ‘Agia Zoni II’, when it reportedly sank off the island of Salamina causing a massive oil spill polluting the Athens riviera.
When shipping officials examined the vessel, they were shocked to find a massive gash in the ship’s hull. Experts involved in an inspection of the vessel, pulled the vessel out of the sea and towed to Salamina. They reported that the vessel appeared to be in good condition and the hull could have been damaged when it was removed from the seabed.
There is a possibility that the vessel could have sustained the gash while striking rocks while sinking.
Owner suspects foul play:
However, the owner of the vessel Thodoris Kountouris has alleged that this vessel had been seaworthy but has been reportedly sunk due to foul play.
The owner has reportedly asked independent experts to investigate the reason the vessel sustained the massive gash. He requested the experts to dispatch divers to examine the ship’s hull but, the planned operation was called off as the ship’s hull would not have been visible to divers due to its position.
Captain hears loud noise before ship lost control:
The chief engineer of the vessel alleged that he reportedly heard a loud noise like an engine door slamming shut before the vessel started foundering.
A prosecutor who has been tasked with determining the circumstances that led to the vessel’s sinking has yet to complete his investigation.
Those that incurred losses due to the pollution caused by the sinking in September of the vessel have received compensation following the approval of funding by the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds earlier this month.
The oil slick covered more than 20 kilometers, stretching from Piraeus to beyond Glyfada on the southern coast of Athens, and leading to a public ban on several popular beaches which has since been lifted following a cleanup.
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Source: Ekathimerini
