The Charges Against The Crew
In an alarming turn of events, Swedish prosecutors went public today charging the captain and third officer of the ro/pax ferry Marco Polo with reckless navigation. This oversight allegedly led to the unintentional grounding of the ferry, thus triggering a demanding environment cleanup operation. TT-Line of Germany, which operates the ferry, got embroiled in this predicament on October 21 when the ship, sailing from Trelleborg to Karlshamn in Sweden, reported a grounding, which led to its evacuation.
The Unfolding Drama
Over 40 passengers and a third of the 30 crew members had to be evacuated with help from the Swedish Coast Guard. The investigation that followed shed light on the events leading to the grounding. They found that the vessel had sustained damage after hitting the ground and had likely sprung a leak before grounding a second time. The ship’s hull had been compromised, and it began taking on water.
As of Thursday, up to 14 cubic meters of oil waste has been recovered from the sea and nine cubic meters from the shoreline. Astonishingly, approximately three miles of the coastline have been tarnished by this oil spill.
Unforgivable Negligence
The prosecutor placed the blame squarely on the third mate, who was in command before the first accident. Despite impaired visibility owing to fog and darkness, he was navigating only using the ship’s electronic chart. The investigators suspect that the electronic positioning system faltered, and the third mate was held culpable for not employing other navigational aids like radar or appointing a lookout.
After the first grounding, the captain took command but continued to rely solely on the flawed electronic map. This unchecked dependency on technology led to the ship hitting the ground again.
Consequences and Containment
The captain and the third mate were slapped with fines of approximately $3,600 and $1,500 respectively. Though Swedish law dictates softer penalties for negligence versus intentional acts, the repercussions for such grave negligence are significant. The Coast Guard might impose a water pollution fee, and the ferry’s seaworthiness is under investigation based on the reported malfunctions.
The ongoing cleanup of the shoreline has necessitated more manpower. The Coast Guard, which is in charge of managing oil pollution in the water, has enclosed the ferry with a boom. Despite the official reports suggesting that the slick has dissipated, they strongly believe that oil is still seeping from the ferry beneath the water’s surface.
The magnitude of the situation requires the intervention of 24 trainees and 30 Home Guard members in the following days. Efforts are underway to protect the shore from the advancing oil slick, requiring additional protective gear and tools like lights. The Coast Guard’s resources are being challenged by the difficulty of reaching up to 300 cubic meters of oil remaining on board the grounded ferry. As the maritime drama continues, poor weather conditions are hampering the cleanup efforts.
TT-Line is entrusted with crafting a salvage plan that will receive approval from the Swedish Transport Agency and the Coast Guard. Whilst the plan is being drafted, salvage resources are being mobilized in the area, and the vessel’s owners have put two tugs on standby, set to respond if necessary. As the Marco Polo remains aground, environmental hazards escalate, demanding swift and efficient action to rectify the situation.
