Stranded Tanker Poses Environmental Threat to Morocco’s Dakhla Bay

This tanker is a real danger to the environment, as it threatens to capsize at any moment. The risk of an oil spill is so great that some fear "an unprecedented ecological disaster in this beautiful region of Morocco". The command of the international port and fishing port of Dakhla and the Merchant Navy Directorate have put the shipowner on notice to proceed with its evacuation. But all attempts have been in vain.

According to Hespress, the owner of the tanker says he has deposited a bond, the cost of the operation to evacuate the oil tanker being very high. The rescue operation after three unsuccessful attempts should continue to evacuate the risk of an oil spill. The situation seems to be under control according to the maritime authorities, who say they are ensuring continuous monitoring. For the time being, no impact on port traffic has been reported, which has not yet been affected.

The bay of Dakhla has the peculiarity of being a unique natural environment in the world. To reach its port, ships must remain at anchor, waiting for qualified port pilots to assist them to the quay by giving them access to the entrance channel. Perhaps it was this type of maneuver that led this tanker to the scenery. An investigation has been opened to determine the responsibilities in this case.