On Friday, firefighters worked urgently to contain a diesel fuel spill from the passenger ship “Adolf Jensen,” which sank off the coast of Greenland. The incident poses a significant threat to the fragile Arctic environment.
Details of the Spill
- Time of Incident: The ship struck a reef and ran aground overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
- Extent of Spill:
- Approximately 20,000 litres (5,300 gallons) of diesel fuel have spilled into the water.
- Hydrocarbon films have been observed on the surface of the Nanortalik fjords in southern Greenland.
Response Efforts
- Containment Measures:
- Firefighters have deployed a pump and floating barrage to manage the spill.
- Additional equipment has been provided to the firefighting team to address challenges posed by wind, tides, and sea currents.
- Evacuations: All individuals aboard the ship successfully evacuated prior to the sinking.
Ship Information
- Name: Adolf Jensen
- Size: 30 meters (98 feet) long
- Flag: Greenlandic
- Cargo:
- The ship was carrying between 15,000 to 20,000 litres of diesel fuel.
- It also contained 1,000 litres of engine oil.
Government Actions
- The environment and civil protection ministry has requested assistance from the Arctic command of the Danish Navy to recover and treat the spilled fuel.
- Local police have issued a warning to all vessels in the area to exercise caution and sail slowly to minimize disturbance to the water.
Company Response
- Rasmus Rasmussen, CEO of the vessel’s owner, 60 North, has declined to comment on the situation, stating he needs to confer with the police and crew first.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What caused the diesel fuel spill off the coast of Greenland?
- A) A collision with another ship
- B) The ship ran aground after hitting a reef
- C) A storm at sea
- D) Mechanical failure of the ship
- How much diesel fuel spilled into the water?
- A) 10,000 litres
- B) 15,000 litres
- C) 20,000 litres
- D) 25,000 litres
- What is the name of the passenger ship involved in the incident?
- A) Arctic Explorer
- B) Greenland Voyager
- C) Adolf Jensen
- D) Northern Star
- What challenges are firefighters facing while trying to contain the spill?
- A) Lack of manpower
- B) Wind, tides, and sea currents
- C) Equipment malfunction
- D) Inexperienced crew
- What assistance has the environment ministry requested?
- A) Help from local fishermen
- B) Assistance from the Danish Navy’s Arctic command
- C) Support from international environmental groups
- D) Funding for cleanup efforts