Russia denies it's responsible for oil spill off coast
Department of Transport / Press Association
This image released by the Irish Department of Transport shows oil floating on the surface of the Celtic Sea close to where the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was refueling.
THE Russian navy has denied that it is responsible for a major 1,000-tonne oil spill off Ireland's coast which is now threatening beaches in Cork, Waterford and Wexford.
The spill is being closely monitored by Irish and British Coastguards. It is feared that the oil spill is three times greater than initially feared and could involve up to 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil.
The slick was detected not far from where a Russian Navy aircraft carrier was refuelling from a support ship.
However, while the Russian Navy has launched an inquiry, sources denied that the major oil spillage was linked to their vessels.
A Russian Navy official denied that there had been a refuelling accident with the carrier -- or that contaminated fuel had been deliberately dumped at sea.
Navy official Igor Dygalo also challenged the assessed scale of the spill -- insisting that it did not pose an environmental hazard.
However, the Government has requested that samples from the fuel carried on the Russian warships. The slick is currently drifting at an estimated 12 miles per day -- but that could change with sea conditions.
Initial environmental assessments have indicated that it could be up to two weeks before the major portion of the residual oil arrives off Irish beaches.
hnews@herald.ie
- Ralph Riegel
