NewsWhore
04-11-2011, 04:20 PM
A vessel full of petrol ran aground several years ago off the coast of the Isla Beata in Pedernales. Now scientists say that the ship's cargo needs to be removed because it threatens the beaches and marine life in the area.
The ship, Konstatinos, flies the Honduran flag and belongs to a Greek shipping company. It ran aground on the reefs in 2007 and since then its structure has deteriorated. Marvin Flaquer of Flaquer Shipping Service with experience in salvage recently inspected the ship after being alerted by fishermen in the Cabo Rojo area. He recommended emptying the tanks as soon as possible. The tanks contain some 250 tons of bunker C fuel oil but water has penetrated the tanks. Flaquer said that special equipment was needed to remove the ship's environmentally dangerous cargo and estimated the cost of the salvage operation at US$500,000. He said international agreements oblige environmental damage to be paid for and the government needs to sue the owners of the ship and the government of Honduras, where the ship is registered. Hoy reports a source as saying that Honduras had pledged to deal with the problem, but this never happened. The ship belonged to the Apirotan Shipping Company from Greece. As reported, the Ministry of Foreign Relations' efforts to resolve the problem were unsuccessful.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)
The ship, Konstatinos, flies the Honduran flag and belongs to a Greek shipping company. It ran aground on the reefs in 2007 and since then its structure has deteriorated. Marvin Flaquer of Flaquer Shipping Service with experience in salvage recently inspected the ship after being alerted by fishermen in the Cabo Rojo area. He recommended emptying the tanks as soon as possible. The tanks contain some 250 tons of bunker C fuel oil but water has penetrated the tanks. Flaquer said that special equipment was needed to remove the ship's environmentally dangerous cargo and estimated the cost of the salvage operation at US$500,000. He said international agreements oblige environmental damage to be paid for and the government needs to sue the owners of the ship and the government of Honduras, where the ship is registered. Hoy reports a source as saying that Honduras had pledged to deal with the problem, but this never happened. The ship belonged to the Apirotan Shipping Company from Greece. As reported, the Ministry of Foreign Relations' efforts to resolve the problem were unsuccessful.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)