Monday, Sep 15, 2008
Gulf News
Fujairah: Another oil slick washed up on the shores of Al Aqah beach in Fujairah on Sunday, but officials say it is not as damaging as previous incidents.
The slick covered an area of more than two kilometres. A number of hotels and resorts are located on that stretch of beach.
Ali Qasim, Head of the Environmental Department at Fujairah Municipality, said: "We received a report about the oil slick early yesterday and immediately informed our partners in the oil slick response company.
"They inspected the site of the slick and informed us it was not significant. So our municipality workers and workers from the local hotels managed to clean the affected areas."
Patrick Anthony, general manager of the Le Meridian Beach Resort, said: "Dibba Municipality officials promised to seek out the culprits. I hope the authorities catch these offenders and make an example of them.
"Their actions not only result in environmental damage, but also cost the tourist industry dearly both in clean-up costs and loss of potential earnings."
False alarm
In an unrelated development, Gulf News obtained pictures showing a ship apparently pumping out black oily liquid.
Gabriel Versini, a French electrical engineer, claimed to have taken the pictures while on a fishing trip on Friday morning.
According to Versini, the ship was anchored outside Fujairah port.
Captain Tamir Masood, Harbour Master of Fuj-airah Port, assured Gulf News that the incident, which was reported and logged on Friday morning, was not related to yesterday's oil slick.
Captain Masood said: "What was caught on camera was a simple case of fuel overflow, which was immediately reported to the port authorities and cleaned up as much as possible."
Praising Versini's actions, Masood said the port authorities would not hesitate to prosecute law breakers.
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
