THE OWNERS of a cruise ship sunk off the Greek island of Santorini have no plans to salvage the oil-filled wreck because of the risk of causing further environmental damage, they said yesterday.
The Sea Diamond, owned by Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines, sank in April a day after hitting a reef. More than 1,500 people were evacuated but a French national and his daughter were listed as missing and feared drowned.
Louis Cruise Lines said the environmental hazard from the wreck, which still has an estimated 200 tonnes of crude oil trapped inside, was “minimal”. Islanders fear the vessel is an environmental time bomb which could deal a devastating blow to Santorini, one of Greece’s top tourist attractions.
The company and the captain were fined a maximum 1.17 million euros by Greece’s Merchant Marine Ministry this week for causing environmental pollution around the island. Louis said it would appeal.
“The company believes it has done the utmost, over and beyond what is dictated by law, and believes this fine is unfair,” Louis said in an announcement yesterday.
Louis had initially said it would submit a plan by June 6 detailing how it would pump out the remaining oil from the wreckage. Advisers have since cautioned against salvaging the wreck, or attempting to drain fuel from its tanks.
“The structure of the vessel, the state of the wreck and its depth has drawn experts to the conclusion any attempt to pump oil out would be exceptionally dangerous to divers and possibly to the environment,” the company said.
Any attempt to raise the vessel could also trigger an uncontrollable oil spill, it said.
The company planned to replace pollution catchment dams in the area around the wreck with new ones which would limit any pollution from oil seepage which has been declining, Louis said.
The Santorini Port Authority is fining the company 8,804 euros for every day it does not pump out the oil. This week representatives of Santorini said they would appoint a salvage company to raise the wreck if Louis did not comply.
Environmentalists say the Sea Diamond is now perched on a ledge and could be dislodged in the event of even a mild earth tremor. Should that happen, a subsequent oil spill could stretch for tens of kilometres, they have warned. (R)
??
??
??
??
