The fishing vessel Monte Arballu sank in the port of Arrecife, Lanzarote, on Tuesday, prompting the Canary Islands government to activate a pre-alert for marine pollution. The ship was docked at the Naos cruise terminal and was carrying around 10,000 litres of diesel. Following the incident, a fuel spill measuring approximately 30 by 15 metres was detected.
At 1:05 PM, the Port Authority of Las Palmas activated the Maritime Internal Plan (PIM) in an emergency phase, deploying two anti-pollution barriers to contain the spillage. Shortly after, at 1:27 PM, the Maritime Captaincy launched the National Maritime Plan (PMN) in an alert phase.
The PLATECA protocol was also activated to enhance coordination among various administrations and ensure a preventive response.
Efforts are now focused on the sunken vessel. Due to the shallow waters in the area, officials are assessing options for refloating the Monte Arballu. The progression of the fuel spill and the condition of the vessel will determine the next steps.
Currently, authorities report that the leaked fuel is contained within the barriers set up in Arrecife port. The PLATECA will remain in pre-alert status to ensure continuous monitoring and coordination as operations continue to address the marine pollution threat.
