The shores of Apostolos Andreas are not touched by crude oil but the so-called gloss, said today Marina Argyrou, Director of the Department of Fisheries.
Speaking at the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (KSED) in Larnaca, where the Response Team met, Ms. Argyrou said that "the Fisheries Department was informed last Thursday about a pollution incident in the coastal area of Syria caused by a leak power plant ".
"The department was monitoring the situation in relation to the development of this oil spill, which seemed to be confined to the coast of Syria," he said.
He added that on Sunday night "we received an updated satellite image from the European Maritime Safety Agency which showed that part of this oil spill had been moved to the sea area between Syria and Cyprus".
He also said that "in the previous days and as soon as we received this image, we have immediately proceeded to models of oil spill dispersion where we saw that it would move, based on meteorological and iconographic data to the coast of Apostolos Andreas and based on the model the effect was expected this morning ".
As he explained "the models are indicative and give us the tendency so that you can take action and are then confirmed with the real data. With these data and the images we have received, today we have been informed that this oil spill has reached the shores of Apostolos Andreas, while from information that we have and will of course need additional confirmation, it seems that at the moment it is a gloss "
He also noted that "what has reached the shores is not currently crude oil".
As of yesterday, Ms. Argyrou informed, "we have convened the response team that is under the Marine Pollution Emergency Plan, which consists of the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry of Shipping so that all the information we have and the data to we evaluate to investigate them and to take decisions and measures to prevent and deal with the oil spill ".
In this context, he stated "we are in the KSED where we have all the means to be able to have all the images, all the models and evaluate the data at the same time".
At the same time he continued "the Cypriot government has informed the occupation regime in relation to all the information we had and that it was planned, based on the models, that the oil spill would touch the Cape of Apostle Andreas and we noted that the Republic of Cyprus is available to provide any assistance, if requested to deal with pollution ".
Referring to the actions taken by the Coordination Center for dealing with the oil spill, Ms. Argyrou said that "in addition to the continuous monitoring and evaluation of data with models, we have taken various preventive measures." He stated that "we have informed through NAVTEX and NOTAM issued by the KSED, all passing ships and aircraft in the area of interest, to give us more information about the type of oil, ie whether it is glossy or crude oil ». "We have also asked the Ministry of Shipping, through the Ministry of Shipping, to send us constantly updated images to find out where this oil spill is via satellite," he added.
He also stated that "steps have been taken by the Ministry of Shipping to put into operational readiness the anti-pollution vessel" Alexandria "that is now in our area". He added that "we have still transported anti-pollution equipment, ie absorption dams, absorption pads and other equipment in the area of Paralimni, while in the area there are two small boats of the Department of Fisheries to monitor and control in case of spotting, to be ready to face it ".
According to Marina Argyrou, "steps have also been taken to the Navy Administration so that the boat" Famagusta "also patrols the area so that, in addition to satellite images and models, we have the same knowledge of the sea area. We are still in constant contact with the satellite system "REBEK" of the European Union, so that if it has more information it can provide it to us and in case, if it is necessary to activate the Plan that the Republic has together with Greece and Israel for a big incident pollution ".
He added that "the information we have received today shows that the oil spill is shiny and does not appear to be crude oil, that the management of the treatment is very different and we may not need to activate so many means."
The Director of the Department of Fisheries assured that "we will constantly monitor the issue, we will confirm it in order to be ready for anything that may happen" and reiterated that "currently the dispersion models we have, do not seem to affect its areas at the moment free province of Famagusta ".
Answering a relevant question, Ms. Argyrou said that the satellite system "REBEK" spoke about the existence at sea of 15 thousand cubic meters, about 18 tons of oil.
To another question he answered that "through the appropriate procedure that we have been informed, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, about the information we had, about the models we had, it seemed that based on models, the stain would reach the Cape of Apostle Andreas" while At the same time, the "willingness of the Republic of Cyprus to provide any assistance needed" was expressed.
Ms. Argyrou also explained that "dispersion and simulation models use oceanographic data, ie area currents, meteorological data and information on the type of oil, which in this case does not use the type that has evaporated, ie the gloss, but the worst case scenario of crude oil is used ".
Asked when the oil spill is expected to clear up, he replied that "the management of the gloss is very different from crude oil, it evaporates either with temperatures or with stirring of water, while in areas where it can accumulate absorbent dams can be used. "At the moment no one can predict how long it will take to clean," he said, adding that "we will be watching in the coming days."