MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Sunken Ferramales oil leak is not “an environmental risk”

The Falklands flag Ferramales capsizes before going down<br> Photo: FIG Fisheries Dpt.

Fuel which is leaking from the trawler Falkland Islands flagged Ferralemes which sank 70 miles north of the Islands early February is not presenting an environmental risk. Penguin News confirmed that the Islands Marine Officer is conducting an investigation into the sinking of the vessel.

Falklands' Director of Fisheries John Barton told a meeting of the Fisheries Committee that an estimated 500 tonnes of fuel was on the vessel when she went down on February 2 but that the fuel which surfaced should quickly disperse. The ship's thirty-two crew members had to abandon the vessel when she began to sink. She had an apparent loss of stability due to ingress of water into the factory deck when she was hove to in rough weather. The Falklands-flagged ship, whose local parent company is RBC Ltd, eventually capsized then sank. Ferramales captain Jose Santos who last weekend arrived back in Spain with other crew members told the press in Vigo that "terrible weather and the fact the vessel was loaded with fish made it very difficult to control the situation". Ferramales crew took to life rafts and was collected by another trawler Loitador but the captain remained on board while the listing was not too serious. "Once the crew was rescued I stayed on board hoping the weather would improve and preparing for next day in case we could recover the vessel by having her towed to the Islands", said Santos. But the captain finally had to be collected by a zodiac from the Castelo. No one was injured in the ordeal. The men were brought to Stanley where they were fed, clothed and cared for by the Lighthouse Seamen's Centre. Captain Santos said Ferramales complied with all safety regulations and was grateful to the people in the Falklands for their solidarity and to the company which acted with the utmost responsibility. "I'm sure everything is going to work out fine and we'll all meet again fishing in the Falklands". The other eight Spaniard crew is expected this week in Vigo while the rest, 16 Peruvians and four Indonesians are also traveling back to their homes. Ferralemes has been fishing in the Falkland Islands since the 1980s. Tom Blake of RBC Ltd described the loss of the vessel as a "bitter blow". "The vessel was an excellent trawler and has been an integral part of the group since the beginning. However no lives were lost and we are very thankful for that -to a large part that was down to the conduct of the crew who reacted extremely well under very difficult circumstances". Mr Blake said that since the crew's arrival in Stanley there was a "fantastic" response to an appeal for clothing. He added: "In particular we would like to thank Betty, Howard and the volunteers of the Seamen's Mission for their help and support. I know the hospitality people have shown the crew has been very much appreciated." An investigation into the sinking has been conducted by Marine Officer Jon Clark who confirmed that all the crew had been interviewed. He commented: "Conclusions have been formed as to why the vessel sank, but I think it would be wrong to release any findings at this stage before the report is completed and the owners given a chance to comment." He said the report would be circulated to Councilors and government officials and a view taken as to whether it could be made public. (PN/MP).-