The NEW FLAME grounded after a collision

Spain calls in ambassador to complain over NEW FLAME wreck
Andalucian regional government wants to reclaim costs of beach cleaning...

After the wreck of the NEW FLAME, the tanker which ran aground off Gibraltar following a collision in August last year, sank over the weekend, Spain's governments have complained at all levels, insisting that reparations are made locally after an oil spill resulted from leaking fuel oil.

The Government of Gibraltar issued a statement saying that as a result of stormy weather conditions NEW FLAME's No.5 cargo hold flooded, causing a loss of buoyancy, which has resulted in the stern section of the vessel settling on the seabed in an upright position.

All that now remains visible above the sea surface is the vessels navigation bridge, aft mast, and the upper part of her funnel.

As this was not unexpected, the statement went on, Titan the firm contracted for the wreck removal operation, had already put in place precautionary measures before the onset of the stormy weather. These measures which consisted of a number of heavy lift chains being placed under the hull of the vessel will eventually enable the section of the vessel which flooded, to be lifted from the seabed once operations re-commence.

The incident, which happened during the hours of darkness on the morning of Sunday 10th February 2008, has not caused any oil pollution said the Gibraltar Government. However, they admitted "there may have been a minor spill of light engine diesel oil from the salvors' equipment, which was on deck at the time of the incident."

Spanish authorities are not so sanguine and claim that a spill from leaking fuel has affected a kilometre of their beaches. The Andalucian government is seeking compensation from the owners of the NEW FLAME as well as the ship's insurers. The Andalucian president is also angered by the six months that have passed since the grounding saying that his people would have removed the tanker months ago.

Meanwhile Spain's foreign ministry is reported to have summoned the British Ambassador Denise Holt to communicate their concern over the sinking of the tanker.

Verdemar Ecologistas-en Acción, a Spanish ecological campaigning group, has repeatedly criticised Gibraltar for the handling of the NEW FLAME since her collision and grounding. They also accuse the Spanish government of being 'complicit and irresponsible'.