By Jite Eriabie
Oil spill clean-up operations have been launched off the coast of Salamina, Greece after a 3,205 dwt oil tanker sank in the area, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard.
Crews were sent to the site to contain the pollution and oil spill clean-up units were deployed to assist in the efforts.
The country’s Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Panagiotis Kouroumblis, said relevant authorities managed to almost completely seal the tanker, named Agia Zoni II, which was loaded with 2,200 tons of fuel oil and 370 tons of marine gas oil when it started sinking.
The operation was expected to be completed by noon on Tuesday, and a pumping operation to remove the cargo was set to start later the same day.
The 1972-built Agia Zoni II started taking on water while it was anchored near the Port of Piraeus and subsequently sank on September 10.
The ship arrived at the anchorage a day earlier, after sailing from the Greek Port of Aspropyrgos.
Two crew members who were aboard the vessel at the time were rescued, the coast guard said, adding that the cause of the incident was unknown.
An investigation into the sinking is expected to be launched.
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