Leak in lake leads to large operation

Photo: Kristjan Teedema

Tuesday fuel leak from Estonian Maritime Administration hydrographic vessel quickly covered nine hectares of Lake Peipsi. Border guards are busy trying to keep the contamination from coming to the shores – so the floating substance could evaporate.

Yesterday at noon, at Omedu and Sääritsa villages, the lake stanched strongly of diesel fuel. A mere kilometre from Sääritsa village, hundreds of metres of absorbent-filled beams, cradled by waves, were sucking fuel residue from the water.

Meanwhile, numerous boatfuls of fishermen remained undisturbed, deeply absorbed in their trade amid it all. Bass bites, assured Mustvee town volunteer lake-guards Kaupo Kaasik and Lauri Meimre, taking Tartu Postimees to the emergency site.

Bolt from blue

According to Maritime Administration deputy director general Taivo Kivimäe, it is still not known what caused the relatively new (made in 2007) catamaran EVA-301 hull damage. Out of the hole, just above eater level, fuel began to pour forth on October 1^st at 10:55 am, while five kilometres South-East of Mustvee.

Hurriedly, the crew got to pumping the fuel into another tank. Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB) was informed, the latter springing to action – determining the spread of the pollution and fighting off the diesel. Approximately 1,400 litres of the fuel found its way into Lake Peipsi. According to Mustvee border guard cordon chief Jalmar Ernits, they were notified at 11:04 am. «Fuel leak, they said. We launched a boat.»

In the afternoon, a PBGB plane was sent to survey the damage. To begin with, the fuel had spread to a patch a kilometre long and 200 metres wide, said Mr Ernits. However, it widened rapidly. «Surely this would be a major pollution fighting operation on Lake Peipsi, ever,» said he, adding that with vessels 6 years young such accidents are highly unexpected.

According to volunteer-rescuers Mr Meimre and Mr Kaasik, a leak so large has never hit Lake Peipsi before. As also confirmed by Sulev Märss, an environment inspector linked to the lake since 1992. 

The hole being above water and the vessel not in danger of sinking, it was allowed to sail home to Tartu. For the voyage, remaining fuel was enough. In Tartu, the ship is about to be examined in dry dock. Mr Kivimäe said it is surely going to be fixed, headed for service again.

Environment largely spared

At noon, yesterday, border guards and environment inspectors toiled to keep the winds from blowing the stuff ashore. For that, vessels of both agencies were loaded with ever increasing amounts of absorbent beams; these were carried to the location and anchored near the slick. «The lake is one,» is how Mr Märss substantiated the cooperation.

Later, proceedings by the Inspection will serve to assess damage to environment; right now, fighting pollution is top priority.

According to Teet Koitjärv, emergencies adviser at Environmental Board, diesel fuel is a volatile substance – coming into water, lion’s share of it evaporates. «Strong diffusion and vaporization have already taken place,» he said yesterday afternoon. A small percentage of the fuel may, during diffusion, form other chemical compounds; at his estimation, however, right not damage to the environment is not severe.

Jalmar Ernits, the border guard, added that immediately after accident the diesel slick was golden, yellowish. By yesterday, it had turned grey. The lake being in doldrums – sadly so, said Mr Ernits, as it would have been good for winds to press the diesel against the pontoons, causing it to be absorbed faster. 

With petroleum pollution, waterfowl face bulk of the hazard; yesterday, at least, these were not to be seen near the slick. The nearest grebes were fishing a couple of kilometres away, gulls also kept their distance.