More fuel leak from sunken vessel reported

The White Whale, an oil tanker that sank in late October, poses a serious risk to coastal marine life in the UAE if the ship cannot be salvaged before 1,000 tonnes of diesel escape into the environment, an official has warned. Lying on the seabed 35 kilometres off the coast, the shipwreck is leaking fuel, according to reports, despite efforts to patch holes in the hull late last year. "It will be catastrophic if any of the diesel tanks burst as it would likely pollute the shoreline and cause contamination and endanger marine life," an official with Khalid Port told Gulf News. Any spill could seriously affect a nearby commercial fish farm that raises species of Gulf fish bound for restaurants across the UAE and beyond. Article continues below Fear of a major fuel spill comes amid documented sightings in recent days by fishermen of diesel on the surface of the Gulf waters. A fisherman told Gulf News that the slick of oil on the water appears to be growing larger by the day leading to an advisory issued by the Ministry of Environment for commercial anglers to avoid the area. The ministry is now working with Dubai Ship Building and Engineering to recover the sunken ship although efforts have been hampered by strong winds and high waves in the past few weeks. Salvage plans called for a ship to be dispatched to the area where, accompanied by smaller vessels, the White Whale could be raised to the surface and towed back to harbour, said an official at the company who declined to be identified. "Every time we set a date for the operation, unfortunately the weather changes the entire plan," said an official yesterday. Word that fuel oil was once again leaking to the surface was disheartening for authorities who quickly initiated steps to patch up the holes in White Whale's hull. Dr Mariam Al Shenasi, acting undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Water, confirmed that expert divers had worked to stop diesel leaking from the engines as part of a three-phase retrieval plan.