The anti-pollution ship Scharhörn drives across the water to pick up the oil.
(Photo: dpa)
Brunsbuettel The Kiel Canal is expected to remain closed until Saturday after large quantities of oil spilled from a pipeline. The duration of the further oil scavenging work depends, among other things, on the weather conditions, said the head of the emergency command, Robby Renner, on Thursday evening. A particular challenge is the wind, which according to the forecast is expected to turn at times during the course of Friday.
According to Renner, the waterways and shipping office for the Kiel Canal, which gives the go-ahead for shipping, is currently assuming a blockage until at least 12 noon on Saturday.
On Friday night, the three oil spill response ships continued to operate around the canal around the clock. At daybreak, the helpers from the Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) and the fire brigade are supposed to resume work on the bank. Animal rescue is also there, as some oiled animals have been spotted. According to initial findings, a low double-digit number of birds is affected.
It is still unclear how much oil escaped after the leak in a pipeline on Wednesday in the port of Brunsbüttel, Renner said on Thursday afternoon. “We have oil pollution that extends over six kilometers along the Kiel Canal.” Based on aerial observations, the amount was calculated at around twelve cubic meters.
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After the incident became known, the traffic control center closed the locks on the canal. According to the CCME, around 30 ships were approaching one of the canal locks on Thursday evening or were waiting in the canal to continue their journey.
One should not release the artificial waterway “too early, because this is about something very valuable,” said Schleswig-Holstein’s Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt (Greens). “It’s about protecting our seas, the Wadden Sea.” It must be prevented that dSchiffeas oil gets into the Elbe or the North Sea.
More: Oil leak stops shipping in the Kiel Canal