Cargo ship beached in Gibraltar bay after collision, authorities prepare for oil spill

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Authorities in Gibraltar are preparing for an oil spill on Tuesday morning after a cargo ship crashed into an LNG tanker.

The 178-meter-long (584-foot) cargo ship was damaged after clipping the tanker and is now beached off Gibraltar’s Catalan Bay.

The bow of the vessel is already resting on the 17-meter-deep seabed, according to statements from the government of Gibraltar.

Even so, the 24 crew members remain safely on board the ship, at the request of its captain. However, the nearby sea and marine environment face a significant risk.

The cargo ship is mainly carrying steel rebar, but it was also loaded with 180 tons of heavy fuel oil, 250 tons of diesel and 27 tons of lube oil.

As of Tuesday morning, authorities had 400 meters of boom — a temporary floating barrier used to contain oil spills — readily available on the scene.

Mariners have also been notified of a 200-meter exclusion zone around the partially-sunken ship.

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory connected to Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast.