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New oil leak from grounded Swedish ferry
New oil leak from grounded Swedish ferry
by AFP Staff Writers
Stockholm (AFP) Oct 29, 2023

A passenger ferry that ran aground in the Baltic Sea last weekend causing a large oil spill has sprung a new leak of oil, the Swedish coast guard said Sunday.

The Marco Polo ferry, operated by TT-Line, ran aground south of the southern city of Karlshamn on October 22, with the vessel's 75 passengers safely evacuated.

Swedish authorities said on Thursday that the ship was still stuck and leaking oil, adding that it would likely take days before a salvage operation could be started.

On Sunday, the Swedish coast guard said in a statement that there was "a new oil leak,", the extent of which could not yet be assessed.

Due to strong winds, "the vessel drifted in the afternoon and an evacuation (of the remaining crew members) is being carried out by the maritime and air rescue centre (JRCC)," the coast guard said.

It added that the ship then ran aground again, half a nautical mile from its previous position.

Sweden on Friday fined two crew members for "recklessness in maritime traffic".

Some 25,000 litres (6,600 gallons) of oil were collected from the area during the week, with Swedish authorities saying it could take as long as a year to completely clean up the spill.

Two fined over ferry oil spill in Sweden
Stockholm (AFP) Oct 27, 2023 - Sweden on Friday fined two crew members of a passenger ferry for "recklessness" after the vessel ran aground and caused a massive oil spill in the Baltic Sea.

The Marco Polo passenger ferry, operated by TT-Line, ran aground near the southern city of Karlshamn early Sunday, with the vessel's 75 passengers safely evacuated.

Two crew members were issued fines for "recklessness in maritime traffic".

"They have not, despite limited vision, used all available and useful tools to determine the ship's position and to avoid the risk of collision," public prosecutor Adrien Combier-Hogg told AFP.

He noted earlier reports that the position system aboard the ship had malfunctioned, and said that since the ship was travelling in fog, the crew should have activated other systems -- such as radar -- to verify the position.

"They relied on the electronic navigational chart, despite the warnings and impaired vision," Combier-Hogg said.

For certain crimes, Swedish prosecutors can issue fines directly without taking the accused to trial.

One of the crew members was fined 40,000 kronor ($3,600) and the other 16,500 kronor.

On Thursday, local authorities said the cleanup operations could last up to a year.

Earlier this week, the coast guard said a streak of spilled oil stretched over five kilometres (three miles) out at sea.

By Thursday, however, aircraft could no longer detect oil on the surface, as it had sunk and begun to reach the shores.

On Friday, the coast guard said that the ship was still stuck, and that it had called in additional help from Sweden's Home Guard to assist in the cleanup.

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