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Concern over oil spill at Cammell Laird
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The oil spill in our port last week caused the ESG some concern over the manner in which details of the incident and scale of the problem was reported.
The initial official statement by Cammel Laird of a few hundred litres of oil with the added assurance of ?everything being under control?, contradicted the continuous activity witnessed at the scene indicating a much larger spillage, said the Environmental Safety Group.
It was subsequently reported that indeed an amount of 7 tons of oil had been recovered by Cammel Laird although it is possible that much larger amounts were involved.
Regardless of the figures the ESG says it maintains that any pollution incident in our common air or marine environment should be openly reported and investigated by our authorities.
"Companies or entities responsible should be held accountable and we would have welcomed seeing progressive, on-site interviews given by a Cammel Laird representative and a Government official. The absence of such accountability only creates suspicion of the scale of the problem," said their Press release.
WATER
The ESG add: The marine environment is part of our common environment and the oil spill, while contained during a period of frenzied activity close to the dry dock, will have had an impact. With the water intake for the desalination plant located at the north end of the port any oil spill within the port will also raise legitimate concerns.
Whether the oil spill originated from a vessel moored at Cammell Laird or elsewhere, the ESG believes this information should be made public and proper penalties and compensation details also made available.
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