Volunteers and experts fight against environmental disaster but Admiral Aurelio Caligiore calls for a European mission
The sinking of the two oil tankers in the Kirch Strait was clear from the start that it could be labelled an “environmental disaster”, so much so that it released, conservatively estimated, at least 3,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, according to assessments made by Greenpeace.
Danger of “mazut”
This product, known as “mazut”, has high density and viscosity characteristics and has covered bodies of water and long stretches of coastline, causing widespread devastation.
Videos that are easily found online show black tides, tar-stained beaches and severely affected wildlife whose last surviving specimens are struggling to survive.
Long-term damage impacts on biodiversity
The perceptible environmental impact goes far beyond immediate contamination as heavy fuel oil, unlike lighter hydrocarbons, is difficult to recover and can persist in the environment for several years; experts agree that its effects on marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal habitats will be severe and profound, with long-term damage and heavy impacts on biodiversity. Commissioner at the Pnrr-Pniec Commission of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (Mase) Admiral Aurelio Caligiore said
Lack of sufficient resources
The current situation, reported by many volunteers who rushed to the scene of operations, highlights the lack of sufficient local government resources: volunteers intervened to cooperate with local authorities engaged in the clean-up effort along the coast, especially near the tourist resort of Anapa, on the shores of the Black Sea.
“Brancaleone Army”
This sort of “Brancaleone Army” has only shovels and rudimentary tools, and for several days it has been working tirelessly to contain the enormous impact caused by the spill. Despite its generosity, its efforts are outweighed by the scale of the disaster.
Devastating environmental crisis
At this point it is necessary to deploy all the specialized equipment and include the experiences and technicians of the sector available in the international field in order to adequately address the devastating environmental crisis that has hit that area of the Black Sea
Black Sea Contingency Planning
It is noteworthy that the international authorities why the state of environmental emergency has not been proclaimed as per the “Black Sea Contingency Planning for Marine Oil Spill”, signed in 1992 by the six countries bordering the Black Sea (Turkey, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Georgia) with the consequent activation of the resources provided for in the same emergency operational plan;
EAS (Equipment assistance services)
Despite of the means and tools stored in the EAS (Equipment assistance services) of VARNA (Bulgaria), packed with all the tools necessary to carry out a real and incisive action to contain the pollutant, have not been provided.as Shipping Italy told
The marine environment
The marine environment affected by this very serious pollution, comparable only to the Erika (1999) and Prestige (2002) cases, must be felt as ours; in our opinion, emphasized Admiral Caligiore adding a broad mobilization of an adequate professional level is needed that goes well beyond the generous enthusiasm of the young volunteers who rushed to the site; at this point it is no longer postponable to develop an effective action of containment, contrast and cleanup that we Europeans, through direct experience, maritime history and technical culture, are able to provide
Oldest Intact Shipwreck in Black Sea
On the Other hand Marine archaeologists have discovered the intact shipwreck of an ancient Greek trading ship on the floor of the Black Sea. The vessel is thought to be the oldest ever to be found in one piece.
Carbon dating was used to confirm the vessel’s age, and that it was the oldest known intact shipwreck. The wreck was found at a depth of more than 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) where the water has no oxygen — meaning that organic material can be preserved for thousands of years.
Video :DW
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