The damaged Mexican bulk carrier Will Be Sunk To Form An Artificial Reef Off Mexico
The Mexican bulk carrier Los Llanitos fell victim to the Hurricane Patricia, which hit the Mexico’s Pacific coast on October 23rd, before weakening into a tropical depression. The ship hit the rocks and got damaged with its hull cracked in the middle. There is a fear of the ship splitting into two halves.
Mexico’s environmental agency Profepa issued a 90 day’s notice to the owner of the stranded ship to complete the fuel removal operations from the vessel. The cracked ship contains 425,000 liters of fuel in its interior. Profepa announced that the shipping company agreed to conclude the transfer in 3-4 weeks, depending on weather conditions.
Ciro Hurtado-Ramos and Xóchitl Yin Hernández, on behalf of Representaciones Marítimas, S.A., said that at all cost by following all contingency protocols fuel spill is averted. Profepa has not opened any administrative procedure against the shipowner because “so far there is no recorded environmental damage”.
There is no indication of an oil spill, and additional booms have been placed on the spot by the agency and Mexico’s navy forces to ensure and contain any potential leak. On the removal of fuel and oil, the 71,665 DWT ship will be sunk and converted into an artificial reef, according to Mexican authorities.
Source :Banderas
