Malta Freeport had to halt operations yesterday because of an oil spill during bunkering at about 6am.

Transport Malta did not give details on the severity of the spill and the impact this could have on the beaches in the area. However, it said booms were placed in terminals one and two to ensure that the spill was contained within the segregated area and that no oil would drift to the nearby beaches.

Preliminary investigations showed that the spill occurred when a hose failed during the bunkering operation. Heavy oil ended up on board the bunker barge and some drifted into the inner side of the basin.

A hose failed during the bunkering operation

Shipping traffic at the Freeport terminals was suspended until the port is declared safe for navigation and that no oil spread further. Information on when the port was expected to reopen was not available by 6pm yesterday. Transport Malta personnel were on site to coordinate operations and ensure that all the necessary action to minimise impact on third parties was undertaken.

Port inspectors were also on site to monitor the clean-up procedure by the bunker operator.

Earlier this summer, swimming along a section of the Birżebbuġa coast had been banned because of an oil spill from the San Luċjan oil terminal.

In June, Pretty Bay was also closed for swimming after oil was carried into the bay when a container carrying fluids started leaking after it was hit by machinery at the Freeport.