He said that rescue experts of the Sakhalin Rescue Division, local Transport Prosecutor, Nature Protection Prosecutor, and federal fishery inspectors had arrived at the Christopher Columbus to decide that in view of the latest incident someone should stay onboard the vessel round the clock.
The Christopher Columbus, property of the European Dredging Company, Brussels, has been chartered by Saipem, a contractor for Sakhalin Energy sea pipeline project.
Past Wednesday, as Typhoon Songda came over Sakhalin, the vessel lost control and struck aground 50 meters from the Kholmsk seashore, spilling over 180 tons of fuel oil and diesel fuel into the sea to pollute five kilometers of the shoreline and sea between the Sakhalin West and Kholmsk seaports. Currently most oil spots have been eliminated using chemical agents adsorbing oil from water surface.
Sakhalin Energy believes the clean-up will be over by the middle of the next week. However, the headquarters in charge of the operation suspects the operation will take the entire coming week, Sitnikov said.
According to the headquarters, half of the 29-man Christopher Columbus crew has been transferred to the Pompeii, another property of the European Dredging Company, that approached the Christopher Columbus. The remaining part of the crew remains in charge with keeping the vessel alive.
The day before a powerful pump was delivered by helicopter to the Christopher Columbus to pump out water.
