The Coastguard says that the threat of pollution in Bray Harbour in County Wicklow is receding. Half of the eight thousand gallons of diesel oil on a stricken barge has been removed. The operation to remove the oil was carried out when the tide was out. It was pumped from the barge onto waiting oil tankers.
As the coastguard wrapped ups its operation for the night, it said that half of the 8,000 gallons of diesel had been removed. All personnel involved in the operation were taken off the vessel. Much work was also carried out in securing the barge to withstand the gale-force winds expected overnight. A coastguard spokesman said that it would probably float about in the harbour, but that it was securely tethered.
The operation will resume at 5 am. By then the vanguard a tug which is travelling from Holyhead should have arrived. The plan is that it will tow the barge away to safety in Dublin port. It was being used to carry out work on the harbour wall, which is being undermined by coastal erosion.
