UAE | Environment

Authorities unperturbed by new oil slick in Fujairah

Another oil slick washed up on the shores of Al Aqah beach in Fujairah on Sunday, but officials say it is not as damaging as previous incidents.

  • By Fuad Ali, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:01 September 15, 2008
  • Gulf News

Fujairah: Another oil slick washed up on the shores of Al Aqah beach in Fujairah on Sunday, but officials say it is not as damaging as previous incidents.

The slick covered an area of more than two kilometres. A number of hotels and resorts are located on that stretch of beach.

Ali Qasim, Head of the Environmental Department at Fujairah Municipality, said: "We received a report about the oil slick early yesterday and immediately informed our partners in the oil slick response company.

"They inspected the site of the slick and informed us it was not significant. So our municipality workers and workers from the local hotels managed to clean the affected areas."

Patrick Anthony, general manager of the Le Meridian Beach Resort, said: "Dibba Municipality officials promised to seek out the culprits. I hope the authorities catch these offenders and make an example of them.

"Their actions not only result in environmental damage, but also cost the tourist industry dearly both in clean-up costs and loss of potential earnings."

False alarm

In an unrelated development, Gulf News obtained pictures showing a ship apparently pumping out black oily liquid.

Gabriel Versini, a French electrical engineer, claimed to have taken the pictures while on a fishing trip on Friday morning.

According to Versini, the ship was anchored outside Fujairah port.

Captain Tamir Masood, Harbour Master of Fuj-airah Port, assured Gulf News that the incident, which was reported and logged on Friday morning, was not related to yesterday's oil slick.

Captain Masood said: "What was caught on camera was a simple case of fuel overflow, which was immediately reported to the port authorities and cleaned up as much as possible."

Praising Versini's actions, Masood said the port authorities would not hesitate to prosecute law breakers.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

More from UAE Environment

  1. Rain hits parts of Dubai and Sharjah

  2. Petrol fumes at gas stations are threat to health

  3. Time to properly deal with waste

  4. A flock of Geese

All articles in Environment

More from UAE

Gulf News
Popular in UAE
Readers' pictures
Your pictures

Readers' pictures

A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week

Latest news
Community Reports

More from Community Reports

Weather

More from Weather