The police and the AFM are investigating fuel transfer and contamination of the sea and have held four vessels in Grand Harbour as part of the investigation.

In a statement, the AFM said that yesterday at 3.45pm an Islander Aircraft on a routine patrol observed the Maltese registered vessel MV ‘Alice’ sailing 30NM South of Malta trailing what appeared to be an illegal discharge of of fuel. The patrol boat P24 was diverted to the scene while a second patrol craft, P52, was also deployed.

It was established that the MV Alice had 80,000ltrs of fuel loaded from Libya intended for ship to ship transfer to the MV Santa Maria. Customs verified authority for fuel transfer, however, an AFM boarding team reported that the MV Alice was leaking fuel.

The oil spill was reported to the Malta Police as maritime pollution of this nature is regarded as a criminal offence.

At 8 p.m. the MV Alice was ordered to proceed to Grand Harbour. Three other locally-registered vessels suspected of being engaged in fuel transfers with the Alice were also ordered to stop any fuel transfer activities and proceed towards Malta for further investigations.

All four vessels entered Grand Harbour and docked at Boiler Wharf under the escort of AFM Maritime Squadron personnel at 8am today.

 

 

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