Authorities in Tunisia continue to work to limit environmental damage following the Friday sinking of a bunker tanker carrying as much as 1,000 tonnes of fuel in the North African country’s waters.
The ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Gabes, in the country’s south, after it took on water in bad weather while sailing from Malta to Equitorial Guinea, Reuters reported.
Tunisian authorities were able to save the seven crew members.
The newswire reported barriers were being set up to limit the spread of the fuel so it could be suctioned as well as to cordon off the ship.
On Sunday, the country's defence ministry said other, unnamed countries had offered to help and that diving teams had been sent to investigate any potential spillage.
Authorities did not name the ship, which was carrying between 750 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes of fuel, but it had been identified as the Xelo on social media.
Photos of the bow of the ship sticking out above the waterline make the ship's name visible, but only the letters E, L and O.
No vessel named the Xelo exists in shipping databases, however, the 1,000-dwt Melo (built 1977) fits the ship's description.
The Cameroon-flagged, Turkish-owned bunker tanker's last automatic identification system broadcast was made from Tunisia.
Its owner and manager is Star Energy. Contact information was not immediately available.
Cameroon's Ministry of Transport has been approached for comment.
