Environmental incident in Risan Bay: Fuel spilled into the sea?

There was an environmental incident in the Risan Bay today, and it is suspected that fuel from construction machinery spilled into the sea.

The Maritime Safety and Port Management Administration of Montenegro (UPSUL) told "Vijesta" that after learning about the environmental incident in Risan Bay, they sent their specialized vessel EKO-1 from Pristan to the scene.

The Navigation Safety Inspection from Kotor was notified, as well as the Municipal Inspection of the Municipality of Kotor, which is expected to determine responsibility for sea pollution if it occurred, as suspected, with fuel spillage from construction machinery.

An additional reason for vigorous action to remediate pollution and uncover its cause is the fact that Risan Bay is officially an MPA (Marine Protected Area) protected area in the sea, due to the colonies of specific types of coral that live in parts of the sea there.

The SAR-4 fast vessel of the Maritime Safety Administration is on site, and their team, together with members of the Croatian Navy, are bringing special floating dams with absorbents that will pick up the spilled oil from the surface of the sea.

According to UPSUL personnel who are on the spot, a thin film of oily substance is floating on the surface, which indicates that diesel fuel has been spilled into the sea.

The UPSUL and Navy teams are in a hurry to pick up the pollution as soon as possible because of the darkness that is gradually descending over Boka, because the night will make further cleaning of the sea impossible.