Galway City Council intends to take legal action against the oil company, Statoil, over a spillage in Galway harbour which polluted the bay.
The incident occurred yesterday morning when a storage tank was overfilled at Statoil's Leeside terminal in the docks area. An unspecified amount of gas oil or home heating oil was washed into the bay, resulting in a sheen four miles long and half a mile wide to the west of the Mutton Island causeway by lunchtime.
Ironically, the incident occurred during a routine meeting of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials in Galway yesterday. An Irish Coast Guard helicopter inspected the area and confirmed that the sheen was visible, while the Galway Harbour Company and Statoil activated their oil spill contingency plans.
Booms were put in place to try and protect the flock of Claddagh swans, the shoreline and vessels in the area. The harbourmaster, Capt Brian Sheridan, appealed to the public not to swim in the bay from Salthill promenade.
Claddagh boat-owners expressed anger at the incident, and sought an urgent meeting with Statoil yesterday evening. Mr John O'Flaherty, spokesman for the boat-owners' association, said the boats would have to be lifted, as the gas oil would affect the caulking on wooden vessels. His members would be seeking compensation for loss of earnings and damage to equipment, he said.
The crew of the Naval ship, LE Róisín, which was in port to launch Galway's annual maritime ball for the RNLI inshore lifeboat, was drafted in by the harbourmaster to assist in the clean-up operation. By high tide yesterday evening, it was hoped that much of the gas oil would have evaporated in the high daytime temperatures. It was also hoped that the flock of Claddagh swans would escape the worst effects of the pollution.
Statoil said it had initiated a full investigation into the incident and was co-operating fully with the harbour company. A spokeswoman for the company said the bulk storage tank involved was three years old. Initial inspections suggested that a valve in the drenching system, installed as part of safety measures, had allowed water into the tank and had caused the overflow.