Tanker poses pollution threat

THE coast guard remained on standby for a major pollution incident last night, as damage to a tanker carrying 55,000 tonnes of oil off the north-west coast was assessed.

The Panamanian-registered Princess Eva has been in sheltered waters in Donegal Bay since Wednesday, after two of its crew were killed in an accident in stormy seas.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources detained the vessel on Thursday after initial inspections found cracks in its deck and other deficiencies.

The department’s Maritime Safety Directorate continued its examination yesterday. A decision on whether to remove the gas oil was due to be made after the surveyors completed their report.

“Their report will determine the next course of action to be taken, but the coast guard are still on alert,” a department spokesperson said yesterday.

While the vessel was detained for safety and environmental protection reasons, the coast guard and its pollution equipment were mobilised as a precaution.

The ship was en route from Denmark to Texas when the tragedy occurred on Tuesday, killing two Argentinian senior ship’s officers.

An injured Uruguayan crew member has been taken off the critical list at University College Hospital in Galway.

He was in a stable condition last night. A Panamanian surveyor was expected in Ireland last night after the country’s authorities were notified.