Greek tanker cleared of suspicion in Israeli oil spill
Israel has cleared the Greek tanker, Minerva Helen, of all suspicion in last week’s oil spill that blighted the Israeli Mediterranean coastline.
Following an inspection at the Port of Piraeus, Israeli authorities have cleared the Greek tanker, Minerva Helen, of all involvement in the oil spill that has left the Israeli coastline strewn with lumps of viscous oil-tar.
The Minerva Helen was hove-to awaiting orders in the Eastern Mediterranean at about the same time that the disastrous spill is said to have occurred, but her owners Minerva Marine say the vessel was in ballast at the time and could not have caused the spill.
In a statement, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection said: “Following a thorough, professional and comprehensive inspection carried out by the Environmental Protection Ministry’s inspector and an inspector from the Shipping and Ports Administration, the ship was finally eliminated as the source of the pollution.”
Israel has banned the sale of all domestic seafood from the affected area as a precaution and a large clean-up operation is in progress involving volunteers and the Israeli military.
“While so far no evidence has shown any danger arising from fish consumption, out of an abundance of caution some samples have been sent to the Agriculture Ministry’s lab for analysis, to rule out any presence of toxic particles,” the health ministry told The Media Line.
