Breaking News: Marco Polo Ship Slides Further Into Water in Hanö Bay
The Marco Polo, which has been grounded in Hanö Bay in Blekinge since last Sunday, has slid further off the ground due to increased winds in the area. There are currently 39 people on board, and plans are underway to evacuate most of the crew for safety reasons.
Johan Wahlström, press spokesperson at the Swedish Maritime Administration, stated that six or seven individuals will remain on board to manage operations while the others are evacuated. Although the ship has moved approximately 100 meters further into the water, there is currently no direct danger to the ship or crew.
As a precaution, a sea rescue helicopter is on standby in the area. Wahlström has confirmed that the helicopter is not active at the moment but will be deployed if necessary.
Earlier on Sunday, TT-Line, the shipping company responsible for the Marco Polo, announced the commencement of oil pumping operations. The process began with pumping out the oil from the damaged tank on board the ship. Afterward, the undamaged tanks will be pumped, allowing the salvage work to begin.
Unfortunately, the ship’s initial grounding caused significant oil spills in Hanö Bay. As of Saturday, approximately 25,000 liters of oil and oil waste had been cleaned up along the Blekinge coast. The Coast Guard has increased its staffing by approximately 50 people to effectively handle the ongoing oil contamination in the water.
The situation is being closely monitored, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.