Stormy weather last week caused wrecked bulk carrier OS 35 (IMO 9172399) to spill more of its fuel off the east of Gibraltar in the Western Mediterranean. Gibraltar Port Authority staff spent much of the Easter weekend cleaning up debris that had washed ashore.
The oil boom surrounding the ship had been removed in anticipation of the bad weather. Some beaches were closed over the weekend.
The OS 35 lies a few hundred metres off Gibraltar after it suffered an accident leaving the port of Gibraltar late last August (IMN September 6th 2022 and later dates). The vessel was towed to the east side of the peninsula to prevent the port being closed.
The aft of the ship was grounded. Then a tear opened up on the starboard side of the hull. Gradually the ship began to split in two. Although the two halves remained connected, structural integrity was lost
The Port Authority has set salvors an end-May deadline to remove the wreck. But progress has been slowed because of adverse weather this year.
1999-built, Tuvalu-flagged, 20,947 gt OS 35 is owned by Oldstone Cargo Ltd care of manager Oldstone Management Ltd of Piraeus, Greece. At the time of the incident it was entered with British Marine on behalf of Oldstone Cargo Ltd.