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Tanker cleared from suspicion

Israeli inspectors conducted an extensive examination onboard the 'Minerva Helen' as it launched a probe and found no source of oil spill onboard. that polluted 40 per cent of its Mediterranean coast in one of the worst ecological disasters. On Feb 27 Israel gave clearance to the docked vessel that it had held under suspicion. The Israeli government had raised speculations that it may have caused the humongous tar pollution following an oil leak into the ocean that was now threatening marine ecosystem along the Israeli coast. While the Minerva Marine Inc. denied involvement saying that the ship was in ballast at the time of the incident, the Israeli government’s environmental protection wing dispatched an investigation team to probe the vessel it held accountable for the maritime disaster. The investigation was conducted conjointly with the Hellenic Coast Guard. Earlier, dismissing Israel’s accusations and state media reports, the Greek shipowners labelled Israel’s indictment as ‘baseless and irrational’ as layers of oil blanketed the 96 miles shoreline stretching from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon with tons of tar polluting the sea.

Tanker named as suspect for oil pollution

The 'Minerva Helen', which was anchored off Cartagena from Feb 21-23, 2021,, has been named by an Israeli news outlet as a suspect in the oil spill disaster that has seen almost all of Israel’s Mediterranean beaches closed down because of tar pollution. The Kan public broadcaster reported on Feb 22 that the tanker is suspected in this month’s incident and was previously involved in a major oil spill just off Copenhagen in January 2008 when 200 tons of oil leaked out after a hose broke while oil was being loaded onto another vessel. The Greek company that owns the ship denied any involvement in the suspected spill off the coast of Israel and additionally denied responsibility for the incident off the Danish coast. On Feb 22 a cabinet meeting to discuss emergency funding for the cleanup saw political mudslinging and the refusal of the Finance Ministry to approve the Environmental Protection Ministry’s request. The meeting ended without a decision and a phone vote was expected to take place later on Feb 23. Reports of the pollution on Israel’s coast emerged on Feb 18 when a dead 17-meter baby fin whale washed up on Israel’s southern coast, along with other wildlife. The government on Feb 21 advised Israelis to avoid all Mediterranean beaches from north to south due to the pollution. The coast was still largely contaminated, especially in rocky areas. A long period will be needed to clear the tar contamination from the beaches and the rocky areas, including the abrasion platforms that serve as habitats for many marine creatures. These are areas of bedrock that extend out from the foot of coastal cliffs into shallow waters.