THE IRISH Coast Guard and its Canadian counterparts are investigating a pollution incident in Irish waters that may be linked to a ship on a transatlantic passage.
A large bulk carrier believed to be discharging oil from its bilges was detected by satellite imagery some 100 miles off the southwest coast late last week.
The suspect ship is due to berth in a Canadian port this week, where it is expected the authorities will carry out a port state inspection.
Irish Coast Guard director Chris Reynolds said the discharge did not constitute a serious pollution risk, but it was against the law.
“As ships are leaving Europe, which is heavily regulated, it is sometimes very tempting to pump bilges in the Atlantic to save on costs in port,” Mr Reynolds said.
“This practice is illegal anywhere, but it is against Irish law within our 200-mile exclusive economic zone,” he said.
The incident was spotted during Irish Coast Guard monitoring of a separate authorised ship-to-ship fuel transfer on the Porcupine Basin. A three-dimensional seismic survey is being undertaken on the north Porcupine Basin by Providence Resources plc.
The legal transfer of fuel was permitted by the Irish Coast Guard to save the survey ship having to return to shore for fuel, missing four to five days of seismic work.
“As a general principle this activity is not encouraged but given the particular difficulties faced, a permit was granted by the Irish Coast Guard with strict environmental, safety and weather conditions,” Mr Reynolds said.
“A specialist ship-to-ship inspector was embarked for the duration, and all costs for monitoring the operation by inspector and by satellite were paid for by the operator.”
The Irish Coast Guard works closely with the European Maritime Safety Agency on reducing maritime accidents and pollution risks.
Two years ago, the Russian navy admitted responsibility for accidental discharge of fuel off the south Irish coast, during a ship-to-ship refuelling exercise.
The Russian navy's flagship, the 46,000-tonne Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, was accompanied by a tanker and tug, and was en route home via the north Irish coast when about 300 tonnes of oil waste was discharged. Due to good weather, the light oil slick dispersed at sea.
A €250,000 bill incurred by Ireland to monitor the spill was never met by the Russian Federation.