Countries offer assistance to Tunisia to avoid an environmental disaster

Officials say the ship was carrying between 750 tons and 1,000 tons of fuel and sent a distress call seven miles from Gabes, to which the Tunisian navy responded.

• Countries offer assistance to Tunisia to avoid an environmental disaster following a ship sank (file photo)

The Tunisian Ministry of Defense said that several countries offered assistance to Tunisia to control the situation following a merchant ship carrying up to 1,000 tons of fuel sank off the coast of Gabes in an attempt to avoid an environmental disaster.

The ship heading from Equatorial Guinea to Malta sank on Friday and the Navy rescued all seven crew members.

Officials said the ship was carrying between 750 tons and 1,000 tons of fuel and sent a distress call seven miles from Gabes, to which the Tunisian navy responded.

Ministry reported #Tunisian_defense It is intervening to prevent marine pollution off the coast #Plug (Southeast) in coordination with friendly countries, following the sinking of a merchant ship.https://t.co/wAkE0AtiX2 pic.twitter.com/p3D1p7ingZ

— ANADOLU AGENCY (AR) (@aa_arabic) April 17, 2022

In a statement sent to Archyde.com, the Ministry of Defense said that the Tunisian navy will intervene with countries that have expressed their desire to help prevent marine pollution and avoid a marine environmental disaster.

Radio Mosaique in Tunisia said that Italy had offered to help and that it was expected to send a barge specialized in dealing with marine disasters.

Radio Mosaique in Tunisia said that Italy had offered to help and that it was expected to send a barge specialized in dealing with marine disasters pic.twitter.com/mpUjTrDWpi

– Baynounah Channel (@Baynounahtv) April 17, 2022

A team of divers began their work around the hull of the ship to ascertain whether an oil spill had occurred.

Transport Minister Rabie Al-Majidi said following the end of the diving operation, “The situation is reassuring and under control, and a leak of gasoil (gasoline) from the sinking ship’s tank has not been recorded.”

He stressed that the next stage is delicate and sensitive, during which the ship must be recovered, adding that the error is forbidden to avoid leakage.

On Saturday, the Public Prosecution opened an investigation to determine the responsibilities and listen to the ship’s crew.

The Ministry of Environment said that the cause of the accident was bad weather, adding that the authorities had formed a crisis cell and were working to avoid an environmental disaster and limit any potential impact.

Environment Minister Leila Chikhaoui stressed that Tunisia’s efforts are currently focused on preventing any environmental disaster, but that it will demand compensation following determining the losses later.

The coast of Gabes in the south of the country has been facing heavy pollution for years, with environmental organizations saying that industrial facilities in the area dump waste directly into the sea.