The State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine has estimated the damage caused by the sunken Delfi tanker to the state at $20,000, the inspectorate’s press service said.
“As of today, the State Environmental Inspectorate has calculated around $20,000, according to the loss estimation method stipulated in instruction of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 484. The loss estimation method provides for around $280 per kilogram of oil products. Each oil leak is calculated and all data is checked by investigative law enforcement agencies which carry out the procedural guidance for the case on damage caused to the state and environment in general,” the inspectorate said.
The State Environmental Inspectorate has been registering exceedance of limits of oil products concentration from 1.5 to 150 times for around 30 days in total, since the moment of the wreckage on Nov. 22.
“We saw the highest indices in the first days after the wreckage and during storms. Leakage also occurred during attempts to lift the tanker. On the days when high concentration of oil products in water was registered we issued warnings for the population, society and the regional government against swimming on the Dolphin Beach,” the press service said.
The inspectorate also said that the issue of removing the vessel from the wreckage area is within the powers of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA), while the State Environmental Inspectorate carried out daily monitoring of waters.
“The State Environmental Inspectorate is estimating the damage caused to the environment and state that will be withdrawn from the shipowner,” it said.
“Given that the tanker is lying in the same place, its elimination has not been accomplished yet and a new leak is possible from its partitions and engine room, the final amount of damage will be calculated as soon as the vessel is lifted and removed,” the state inspectorate said.
