Dutch salvage firm specialists, Ardent Ardent, responsible for the”Seikongen” operation, fears environmental consequences unless the wellboat quickly gets rid of the 100 tonnes of rotten salmon that is still inside it.
“We ask the local and national authorities to allow the normal work required for this type of operations because, despite the current situation of the ship, as long as the time goes by without the discharge to the treatment plant, It means an increasing environmental risk,” the company stated in a press release, according to PortalPortuario.
The “Seikongen” tow operation started in late July, after the boat sank outside the village of Chonchi, just south of Castro on Isla Chiloé in southern Chile nine months ago.
Since then, the boat has been barred from several ports, including the port of Talcahuano. The wellboat was originally scheduled to arrive at Talcahuano on Sunday August 12.
Two days after that, the boat had to leave Ancud, after major protests from the local community. The boat had been in Ancud a few days, due to the tugboat “Taltal” sustaining engine trouble underway to Talcahuano.
As reported on Monday, the boat is anchored outside Tenglo Island in Puerto Montt, Puerto Montt’s Court of Appeal recently ruled that the boat can now go to the port of Calbuco in southern Chile, where it plans to get rid of it 100 tonnes cargo of rotten salmon. In Calbuco there has also been protests against “Seikongen” being in the area.