EMSA Vessel Assists With Bunker Oil Removal

In the weekend of 28th January 2012, the EMSA-contracted Stand-by Oil Spill Response Vessel Salina Bay arrived at the site of the Costa Concordia to assist SMIT Salvage, who is in charge of the bunker removal and pollution response operations. The Salina Bay will be on stand-by as a precautionary measure during this operation over the coming weeks. 

Preparations are ongoing for the removal of the bunker oil from the grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia. The Salina Bay is equipped with several oil recovery systems, as booms, skimmer, sweeping arms and a dedicated radar slick detection system. In the worst case of pollution, she will offer directly response capabilities. Until now, no bunker related pollution has occurred.

 

The Salina Bay is an oil tanker built in 1981 and measuring 75m in length which covers the Central Mediterranean Sea. Bunkering is its main commercial activity. The tanker has a storage capacity of 2,800m³ and a heating capacity of 2,800kW. Its response equipment includes two rigid 12m sweeping arms, two booms (250mt each), one remotely controlled skimmer and a slick detection radar.

 

Additional equipment includes: a gas detector, mini-lab and flashpoint tester. The ship was contracted to the Maltese company Tankship Management, a subsidiary of the Malta-based Virtu Holding Ltd which operates passenger transport, bunkering and ship repair.