Workmen lay a boom across the harbour following an oil spill yesterday.
OIL from Guernsey Electricity flooded into St Sampson’s Harbour yesterday.
A clean-up operation was launched using absorbent materials, floats and detergents after a 50-metre slick stretched across the marina.
Marine and General director David Norman said his staff noticed the oil early in the morning.
‘It looks like a heavy fuel oil, a relatively unrefined crude,’ he said.
‘If it was diesel fuel or lube oil it really disperses in the water and just forms a sheen, but with this there are lumps of black substance.’
The black blobs clung to steps leading into the marina.
Director of the Environmental Health Department Val Cameron said: ‘We understand that, due to a technical problem, a quantity of heavy oil has escaped into St Sampson’s marina from Guernsey Electricity.’
The department checked the scene.
‘There appears to be no public health implications arising from this incident. We are satisfied with the remedial work being carried out to deal with the effects of the oil on boat hulls and the sea wall. These measures also have no impact on public health.’
Guernsey Electricity engineering director Steve Morris said the company was doing what it could.
‘We’re working closely with the harbour master to clear up the spill,’ he said.
‘Using detergents and absorbent material the oil will be cleared from the surface of the water and we’ll also be cleaning the harbour walls and the waterlines of several boats that have been affected.’
Mr Morris thought the oil was not likely to escape far from the harbour.
‘So far as we can see there is only a small quantity of oil, so we are confident that it can be contained. We should not be seeing any beaches, or any other areas being affected.’
He said Guernsey Electricity was still investigating the incident, but it was thought to be the result of a leak from a small oil tank on the roof of a generating station.
‘GE staff believed they had contained the leak and removed spilt oil, but last night’s heavy rain is thought to have washed some remaining oil into the drainage system and from there into the harbour,’ he said.
The oil booms, which have barred vessels’ access to the inner basin and Le Crocq Pier, should be removed over low water this afternoon.
‘Boat owners are advised to ensure that the booms have been removed before proceeding to sea,’ said a harbour spokesman
Article posted on 7th October, 2009 - 11.30am
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