Peruvian navy ship runs aground in the Galapagos Islands

27/05/2009 16:29:31 May 2009. According to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the Peruvian navy training ship the Mollendo has run aground in Academy Bay on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. The Mollendo, a 153-metre ship, had been given special permission from Ecuador's President Correa to enter the Galapagos National Park for training purposes.

Bunker fuel
By giving this permission the president overruled the Galapagos National Park Service, who had denied entry to this ship. The reason for denial by the Park was that they carry bunker fuel, which is absolutely prohibited inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve. It is not known why the President gave such permission despite strict Park regulations. Apparently, the exercises are part of a cultural exchange between Ecuador and Peru. Unconfirmed sources report that the Mollendo carries 24,000 gallons of bunker fuel and 200,000 gallons of diesel.

 

Pilot at the helm when ship ran aground
A requirement for any foreign vessel or any vessel without knowledge of these waters is to have a local pilot on board. The Port Captain of Santa Cruz personally went on board and was actually at the helm of the Mollendo when it ran aground. It is unconfirmed why he decided to take a ship of that size so close to shore in an area that is known for its reefs.

Refloated on the high tide
On Sunday, the National Park together with the Ecuadorian navy, environmental police and the cargo ship Angelina used the high tide to pull the ship free. Oil booms were deployed in case the hull would suffer damage and fuel leak out. After about one hour of pulling at 13.45 pm the Mollendo started moving away until it was finally free floating at 14.00 pm. It is unknown how bad the damage to the reef is. The ship was either very close or on top of a reef that has a fair number of white tip sharks. The ship is sitting at anchor at a safe distance while damages to the vessel are being assessed.

Inadequate disaster plan
It appears that thus far, the ship has not leaked any fuel, however the consequences of such a spill would have been catastrophic as the entire bay would have been flooded with bunker fuel destroying mangroves and most of the life present. Credit goes to all parties involved with the refloating operation to help prevent this damage from happening.

There is no adequate disaster plan in the Galapagos to deal with situations like these, even after the Jessica oil spill in January 2001 off San Cristobal Island. The oil booms the National Park has at their disposal are not only too short, 300 metres to cover a 153 metre vessel' but they are also insufficient for a disaster of this magnitude.