Removal of Flinterstar oil spill making ‘good progress’

In an update on Sunday, Flinter said the removal of heavy fuel oil from the undamaged and relatively easily accessible oil tanks should be completed by yesterday.

Oil leaked into the waters off Belgian coast after the 8,850-dwt Flinterstar collided with the 210,000-cu m LNG tanker last Tuesday, leading to the Flinterstar taking on water while the LNG tanker Al Oraiq managed to sail back to safety. No seafarers were injured.

“Both owners of the vessels involved in the tragic accident will contribute the maximum amounts according to Belgian law to the costs of the wreck removal,” Flinter said.

Smit Salvage and Multraship have been in charge of the recovery of all oil remaining onboard Flinterstar since last Thursday. Another vessel Offshore Beaver also arrived at the scene on Saturday to help clean up any leaked oil.