COPENHAGEN: Authorities attempting to limit a possible spill in the delicate Arctic ecosystem reported that a ship carrying 20,000 liters of diesel fuel went aground and sank off the coast of Greenland on Thursday.
According to a statement from Greenlandic police, “a ship hit a reef near Nanortalik last night around 1:45am and started taking on water.” Around 7 am, the ship sank.
Authorities estimate that in addition to 1,000 liters of engine oil, the 30-meter (98-foot) ship’s tanks had between 15,000 and 20,000 liters (3,963 and 5,283 gallons) of diesel fuel.
Neither the ship’s name nor its type have been made public.
The extent of any contamination cannot currently be determined, according to the authorities, but they are utilizing a pump and have positioned floating booms within a 50-meter radius around the site to contain any spills.
Although every passenger on board was evacuated, neither their number nor nationality was disclosed.
Off the coast of Greenland, a 30-meter-long ship struck a reef and sank, but its four crew members were rescued, according to local authorities. They stated that protective barriers had been positioned in the water to try and contain any spills.
