Technical activities aimed at removal of hazardous waste and transfer of around 425,000 liters of fuel and about 11, 484 liters of oil from the cracked Mexican bulk carrier Los Llanitos, stuck on the rocks near Mexico’s Barra de Navidad for over two weeks, have been launched.
The formal start of the operations is scheduled for today with the arrival of an oil tank vessel from Panama, weather permitting, Mexico’s environmental agency Profepa said in an update.
According to Profepa, preliminary preparations and necessary equipment for pumping of the oil from the bulker have been put in place.
A tug and a supporting barge have been dispatched to the site to assist in the operation.
As informed, the latest tour of the wreck showed no indication of an oil spill. Additional booms have been placed on the spot by the agency and Mexico’s navy forces to make sure any potential leak is contained, the agency added.
Once the fuel and oil are removed, the 71,665 DWT ship will be sunk and converted into an artificial reef, according to Mexican authorities.
The ship fell victim to the Hurricane Patricia which hit the Mexico’s Pacific coast on October 23rd, wreaking havoc on the local coastal communities before weakening into a tropical depression.
The ship got grounded on the rocks and sustained considerable damage, as the ship’s hull was cracked in the middle and the ship is feared of splitting into half.
World Maritime News Staff; Images: Profepa