A hydrocarbon slick detected in the water mirror next to Pier 6, in the Port of Funchal, led this Wednesday to the mobilisation of the maritime authorities, culminating in the identification of the owner of a vessel suspected of being at the origin of the contamination.
The alert was initially given to APRAM – Administration of Ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, which sent a technical team to the site. After preliminary analysis, it was found that the stain came from inside the fishing pier, leading to the suspicion that it was associated with a vessel moored in the area.
“Suspecting that the origin would be related to a vessel, the alert was given to the Maritime Authority and the Maritime Police, which proceeded to identify the shipowner and collect samples for analysis and determination of the origin of the slick,” clarified APRAM to reporters.
They added that, as a preventive measure, APRAM placed pollution combating materials, namely absorbent rolls, around the suspicious vessel.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
