No oil-product pollution detected near GOLDEN LEO

No oil-product pollution has been detected in the Black Sea near the Guinea-Bissau-flagged GOLDEN LEO. The vessel sank after a Russian missile strike, the State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-Western District reported, according to Suspilne Odesa on 28 July, citing data as of 13:30 on 27 July.

Information about the vessel’s sinking near the “Lanzheron” technical observation post reached the inspectorate on 27 July. Preliminary findings established that the patch on the sea surface formed after corn husks from the sunken vessel’s cargo entered the water.

The inspectorate said the situation remains under control. After vessels sink, there is a risk of delayed leakage of fuel, lubricants or other technical fluids due to hull damage, weather conditions or the gradual breakdown of underwater structures.

Earlier, Viktor Komorin, an ecologist at the Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea, told Suspilne that the situation around the sunken vessel is being tracked using satellite images to detect a possible oil-product slick. According to him, the corn cargo is unlikely to have a significant impact on the marine environment, while the main danger may come from fuel and lubricants that can enter the water gradually.