Ecuador activates contingency plan in the Galapagos Islands

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Ecuadorian authorities activated a contingency plan in case of a fuel spill at sea after a vessel carrying 2,000 gallons of diesel sank in the waters of the Galapagos Islands.

The vessel named Albatros contained an estimated “2,000 gallons of diesel at the time of the incident” on Santa Cruz Island. In addition, “there is the presence of a surface slick of fuel at several points in the Bay,” said the Ministry of Environment.

The Port Captaincy and the management of the Galapagos National Park requested the collaboration of Petroecuador to mitigate the possible damages that may occur due to the shipwreck.

In its communiqué, the state oil company indicates that a contingency plan was activated and delivered “two sections of containment barriers to surround the vessel”. In addition, a review of the rest of the vessels that provide diesel to the islands was ordered.

The Galapagos National Park (GNP) announced the temporary closure of aquatic and tourist activities in Punta Estrada and access to visitor sites Alemanes beach, Las Grietas, Estación beach, and Ratonera on Santa Cruz Island due to the sinking of a boat in the bay.

The state oil company Petroecuador initially detailed that the privately owned vessel sank in the early hours of Saturday morning and that the four crew members were rescued alive.

The GNP said that around the sinking site, “containment and dispersant barriers were placed to limit possible negative impacts to the environment”.

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