Grounded vessel pollution risk low

This is despite the starboard side being damaged with three holes and a small amount of gas oil leaking out since the incident. The port side, where the fuel tank is located however, is apparently still intact.

Scarlett Elworthy from the Environment Agency said to The Motorship: “The small amount of oil gas oil that has leaked from the vessel has mainly evaporated so we are not expecting a large scale issue at this time.”

She added: “The overall environmental risk is low.”

The vessel was carrying 40,000 litres of fuel when it ran aground at Raynes Jetty in Llanddulas. It supposedly hit a rock and ended up on the beach after taking on its load of limestone at the jetty. It is still unclear as to what happened but there were strong gales at the time.

Fred Caygill from the MCA, talking from the scene today, said to TMS: “The tender for the salvage contract will be announced this afternoon. It is priority at this time to remove the gas oil to safeguard against any pollution – public safety is paramount.”

According to Mr Caygill, the bad weather has now abated and the “smell of diesel in the air has now gone.”