Oil sheen spreads in Grand Harbour

Updated - A large part of Grand Harbour was covered in an oil sheen today, but its source is unknown.

Readers first reported what looked like an oil spill at about 10am in Rinella Bay. The sheen spread to most of the harbour by early afternoon.

The Environment Authority in a statement issued shortly before 6 pm, said it had immediately dispatched its officers to assess the incident, while informing Transport Malta and the Civil Protection Department, who handle the management of oil
spills at sea.

Transport Malta started a clean-up early in the afternoon after establishing that the sheen was caused by diesel oil.

It is being gathered and taken to a waste management facility for treatment.