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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1987

Vol. 371 No. 2

Written Answers. - Clean-up of Kowloon Bridge Freighter.

168.

asked the Minister for the Environment the action taken to date since the Kowloon Bridge freighter ran ashore off the west coast of Cork; his proposals to ensure that the owners of the vessel remove any potentially dangerous or pollutant material from both the vessel and the foreshore; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The reply to a Private Notice Question on this matter on 25 November last gave details of action taken during the initial stage of the Kowloon Bridge incident. Since then, Cork County Council has continued to deploy protective booms outside the marine reserve at Lough Hyne and to remove oil from affected beaches. At this stage, there is no evidence of a continuing leakage of oil from the vessel's tanks and the small quantities of oil still coming ashore are believed to be attributable to oil remobilised from rocks, or the dislodgement of oil which had been trapped within the vessel. Accordingly, Cork County Council has now begun a final clean-up operation of the affected shoreline in anticipation of the tourist season.

The removal of oil and any other pollutant from the vessel is being actively pursued by my colleague, the Minister for Communications. The owners and insurers of the vessel failed to meet the deadline set for the submission of detailed proposals in this regard, notwithstanding a direction under the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Amendment) Act, 1977. Accordingly, the Department of Communications are at present making arrangements for the removal of any oil and other pollutant material which may be on the vessel.

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