Environmental disaster as ship carrying 750 tons of diesel oil sank off the coast of Tunisia

All is not okay with a Tunisian marine life and environmentalists as an oil tanker sunk on its way from the Tunisian port of Gabes to the Mediterranean Sea. It is reported that this tanker went down on Saturday with over 750 tons of diesel. Divers team have intervened and are trying to prevent and evade what environmentalists warn could be an environmental catastrophe. This team of divers are inspecting the hollow of a sunken tanker to assess its damage and whether oil had started spilling from this huge tanker and possible ways of how to overcome a likely after effects of the likely spillage.

The oil tanker ‘Xelo’ (registration OMI 7618272), 58 meters long and 9 meters wide – according to the Vesseltracker site – and which flies the flag of Equatorial Guinea, was heading towards the island of Malta from the port of Damieta in Egypt, according to the ministry of environment

Before sinking, the seven man crew first issued a distress code on Friday evening to shelter from bad weather at the sea as the ship had started taking in some water. The crew was later safely rescued and brought to the shores before the disaster. Tunisia environment minister is doing everything possible to oversee the response and assures the country that the situation is under control. ‘’ this is cargo of fuel oil or diesel. It’s very different from oil and a fuel oil is more less dangerous and It tends to evaporate fairly quickly. We think the hollow is still water tight and there is no leakage at the moment.’’ says the Tunisian environmental minister.

Tunisian authorities say they have set up Barriers to limit the spread of fuel and the spillage will be mopped out. The world wild life Fund said, the areas where the tanker sunk are finishing grounds for over 600sailers and the gulf provides jobs for 34,000 others on the sea.