by Virginia Piccolillo
The Minister for Ecological Transition: “In a short time our antipollution teams will be ready to go. That’s 750 tons of hydrocarbons. It’s very risky ». From Tunis only contacts with the Navy to monitor the ship of the mysteries
“That’s 750 tons of hydrocarbons in a sunken ship. It’s very risky. We immediately offered our help. Our vehicles were ready for use in just a few minutes. But all we can do is offer help.”
The Minister for Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani is alarmed. He spent Easter in constant contact with the Port Authority’s Marine Environment Department, who have sufficient experience and technology to prevent the environmental disaster that would result in the mysterious Xelo tanker sailing away. But it still does not accept the intervention of the antipollution means, for which our country is an excellence. “There were contacts. But only through the two navies », explains Minister Cingolani to . Is an anomalous procedure stalling in terms of safety protocols, which primarily involve emptying the tanks? And why does the Tunisian government consider this a military matter?
The Minister: “Every minute can make a difference”
“We don’t know if hydrocarbons were lost or not. It’s not like you can enter other people’s homes unless you’re called. Especially when others feel like they can do it on their own. Of course we sounded the alarm immediately. And a few minutes later we were ready to go. Ours were very good. Admiral Caligiore, head of the Naval Environment Agency, briefed me almost minute by minute. Everyone made themselves available. You have done a commendable job. Because every minute can make a difference,” emphasizes Cingolani. But he makes it clear: “We offered everything: ships, patrol boats, drones, helicopters and our antipollution teams. There are intergovernmental agreements. But we can’t do more than be available». But could hydrocarbons reach our Sicilian shores in the event of a leak? “It’s always difficult to predict. But there are always hundreds of tons of hydrocarbons. That’s why we immediately made ourselves available.”
The ship of secrets
There are few certainties on the ship. Starting with the name. Registered with the AIS (Automatic Identification System) as Xelo, under the flag of Equatorial Guinea, in the register of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) it is called Melo with the flag of Cameroon. Built by Star Energy Inc based in Istanbul but registered in the Caribbean island of Anguilla. The Tunisian government has reported a route from Damietta (Egypt) to Malta. But according to satellite polls released by Radio Radicale journalist Sergio Scandurra, she left the Tunisian coast on April 8, declaring that she was going to Egypt. It then disappeared from the satellite signal, only to reappear in Tunisian waters in insufficient time to be brought back from Egypt. Tunisian Environment Minister Leila Chikhaoui spoke of a delivery of diesel fuel on Sunday. They informed the Ministry of Transport that it was diesel. Many have assured that there are no casualties. Instead, the Court of Gabes concedes “minimal losses.”
April 18, 2022 (Change April 18, 2022 | 12:21)
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