Video: Fear Of Oil Spill Looms Large As Dredger Grounds Near Canary Islands Coast

The La Palmas Port Authority is working tirelessly along with Salvamento Maritimo to help a small dredger which grounded on La Isleta shores on Tuesday.

Salvage efforts were hindered due to rough weather conditions, including high tides, lashing waves, and strong winds, damaging the vessel’s hull.

The 85-feet Mimar Cinco was engaged in work along the coast when it was stranded with five crew members who sent radio signals for help. A rescue boat was immediately sent to save them.

Hilo sobre el barco encallado en La Isleta
Se trata de una draga, la Mimar Cinco, que en el momento del incidente tenía 5 tripulantes a bordo. Felizmente rescatados.
El barco, de una empresa gallega, tiene un contrato de la Armada para desguazar los barcos hundidos (pecios) pic.twitter.com/YPf2KOgRre

— Mi playa de Las Canteras ⛱ (@LasCanteras) August 17, 2022

The vessel was hired by the Navy to remove two shipwrecks from the military’s area along the coast. Interestingly, the vessel deployed for this purpose may become another unwanted shipwreck in the area.

Although a rescue tugboat was sent to aid the dredger, it was unsuccessful. The authorities were tense over the thought of an oil spill near the shore of La Isleta. The Canary Islands government began its oil spill prevention protocol as a precautionary measure.

However, it was later found that there was no spillage. Per authorities, over 6000 litres of fuel was removed from the vessel by the 17th morning.