Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Turkey and Cyprus Monitor Oil Sheen After Syria Leak

Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.

September 1, 2021

Authorities in Turkey and Cyprus are on alert for any potential pollution from a 'sheen' of fuel floating across the Mediterranean from a spill in Syria, officials said.

Fuel which seeped into the sea from a thermal station off the coast of Syria on August 23 has been snaking across the Eastern Mediterranean, but any potential impact on Cyprus will depend on currents.

The latest satellite images of the region provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency showed the oil sheen east of Cyprus breaking down and dissolving, the Cyprus Fisheries and Marine Research Department said.

The eastern Cyprus coastline, largely unspoilt, falls within two opposing jurisdictions; an area controlled by the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government and a Turkish Cypriot breakaway state recognized only by Ankara.

Turkey has sent ships equipped with 1100 meters of sea barrier, oil skimmers, oil absorbent pads and containment tanks to northern Cyprus to deal with any contingency, Turkish Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu said.

"Currently there is no pollution that spread to Turkey or northern Cypriot coasts," Karaismailoglu said.

Authorities in the government-controlled south of the island said they had use of an anti-pollution vessel made available by the EU and were monitoring the situation closely.


(Reporting By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Michele Kambas Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week