ISTANBUL - Efforts have started to clean 25 tons of fuel which was spilled by Maltese-flagged vessel in an accident in Istanbul Strait on October 6.
Istanbul Provincial Environment Director Yavuz Cengel told A.A. correspondent on Tuesday that legal procedures were continuing about the Maltese-flagged vessel named ''Gotia'' which hit Turkish Maritime Enterprises (TDI) Emirgan Dock as it went afloat.
Cengel said that they applied to Dock Chairmanship for the prohibition of the vessel from sailing and also they applied to the relevant court requesting the vessel to be confiscated.
Director Cengel said that they warned the insurance company to start to take necessary measures rapidly and to clean the environment.
The vessel's insurance company P&I's Turkey Representative Omur Marine Firm started to clean the fuel that spilled on the sea, Cengel noted.
Cengel said that after the accident they had two disadvantages; namely the strong south wind and the current. He stated that all the bays in the Strait would be searched and the fuel would be cleaned away, adding that all the expenses would be paid by the insurance company.