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Fuel pumped out from vessel that ran aground off Kamchatka

Rescuers pumped out fuel from tanks of the Ajkishun dry cargo vessel that ran aground in the Avacha Bay, Kamchatka’s eastern coast

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKI, October 10 (Itar-Tass) — Rescuers pumped out fuel from tanks of the Ajkishun dry cargo vessel that ran aground in the Avacha Bay, Kamchatka’s eastern coast, on September 2, the region’s special programs ministry told Itar-Tass on Monday.

“Over 1,500 cubic meters of oil-containing waters were pumped out from tanks and holds. Cargos, holds and the engine room polluted with petroleum products were treated with biosorbents,” Special Programs Minister Sergei Khabarov said.

Experts of Russia’s environmental watchdog Rosprirodnadzor and Emergencies Ministry examined the vessel. They said the threat of oil spill when the vessel is being taken afloat will be minimal.

The dry cargo vessel registered in the port of Phnom Penh and flying Cambodia’s flag ran aground not far from Cape Mayachny when entering the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski as a result of a navigation mistake.

There were 21 Chinese citizens, 250 tonnes of fuel and 5,200 tonnes of construction materials onboard. Nobody was injured in the incident.

The vessel remains in the zone of the incident. The area is closed for shipping. The vessel is owned by China’s Tong Yuan Shipping.