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Mistra Bay not for us
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The Government of Gibraltar has noted press reports attributing to an official of the European Maritime Safety Agency the statement that it has despatched its vessel 'the Mistra Bay' to Gibraltar at the request of Spain to stand by in the event of oil spill from the New Flame.
Since the New Flame lies in Gibraltar waters it would be the Gibraltar Government, in the context of the Member State UK,
that would have to request the deployment of resources from EMSA in case of need. The Gibraltar Government has not made any such request because sufficient resources are already available to deal with any conceivable oil spill from the New Flame, however unlikely that may be. Should the Government be advised that there is any change in these circumstances, the Gibraltar Govern-
ment would then request the assistance of EMSA under Article 2(c) of European Maritime Safety Agency Regulations.
The Spanish Government has presumably therefore requested EMSA's intervention on the Spanish side of the Bay of Gibraltar either to stand by while the cargo of oil is unloaded from the other ship involved in the collision, 'the Torm Gertrud' (which is in
Algeciras), or to help protect the Spanish coastline in the event of an oil leak from either vessel. The Mistra Bay is therefore sailing to Spain, not to Gibraltar.
A Gibraltar Government spokesman said that it had not received any contact from EMSA before the issue of their statement and that EMSA was not involved in the Gibraltar operations.
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