Captain of LPG Tanker Arrested After Bunker Spill in Bay of Gibraltar

Authorities in Gibraltar have detained a vessel and arrested its captain following a significant bunker spill, according to local police. The incident occurred when an overflow of fuel happened while the LPG tanker Gas Venus was taking on bunkers from a smaller tanker at an anchorage in the Bay of Gibraltar. As a result, operations at the port were temporarily closed. The Gibraltar Port Authority implemented a response plan and began containment and cleanup operations, which resumed fully on Wednesday after a scaled-down operation the previous night.

The spill led to oil washing ashore at two locations in Rosia Bay and Camp Bay, resulting in beach closures and local cleanup efforts. Volunteers, including the conservation NGO Nautilus Project and Miss Gibraltar 2022-3, Faith Torres, joined in the cleanup to minimize the impact on the local environment. The amount of the release has not been quantified by the Gibraltar Port Authority, but further information will be provided in due course.

The captain of the Gas Venus has been arrested by the Royal Gibraltar Police, who are seeking a Korean translator to assist with the investigation and are willing to pay for their services. No injuries or harm to wildlife have been reported. Port operations at the busy shipping port remain suspended, and there is no specified timeline for the resumption of all services. Gibraltar is the largest bunkering port in the Mediterranean and is located near one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. A major spill occurred at the port last year when the bulker OS 35 collided with another vessel, causing it to go aground and break up. The removal of the wreckage was completed just last month.

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