The Ecuadorian Navy is still coordinating the salvage of general cargo ship Isla Bartolome after it ran aground on a sandbar near the town of Posorja on February 23 and partially sank in the main shipping channel from the port of Guayaquil.
All crew have been removed from the 3,818 DWT vessel. The ship owner and other stakeholders have been devising a salvage plan for the vessel ever since with officials in Ecuador.
The Isla Bartolome is operated by Ecuardor’s Transnave and under contract with the Navy, who will release an update once the details are confirmed.
The Ecuadorian Navy said in a statement on its website*: “Inspectors of the Maritime Authority have been delegated on site to carry out a preliminary technical evaluation and to initiate the process to determine the causes of the marine casualty.
“Regarding the measures implemented to prevent pollution in the area of the incident due to the reported fuel spill, the zonal plan was activated by the Superintendence of the petroleum terminal of El salitral, who have mobilized the containment material as Barriers and skimmers; Material that is deployed in the area of the incident, which will allow immediate action and avoid any type of contamination.”
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*Original statement translated from Spanish to English