Pollution fears in barge crisis
8:07am Thursday 25th October 2007
Comments (25)A BARGE which ran aground in Weymouth Bay has sparked pollution fears.
Heavy machinery and barrels of old engine oil fell into the sea after the Longsand ran aground at Bowleaze Cove.
Bird protection campaigners are fearful of the effect it could have on local populations.
RSPB spokesman Sophie Atherton said: "Weymouth Bay is not the sort of place where we would want this to
happen.
"It is a site of national importance to a number of species, including the red breasted merganser, and other
wintering species.
"Incidents like this are always an unknown quantity.
"We'd like to see the damage contained before any wintering birds are caught up in it."
The Longsand was being towed from Cowes to Plymouth by the Honduras-registered tug boat Lovly Jubly, which broke down off Portland Bill.
The hopper barge, which was also carrying railway sleepers and a digger, broke free from its moorings and ran aground after the tug stopped to make mechanical repairs.
Property developer Mick Burt, 66, of Greenhill, Weymouth, said: "I was sitting having coffee with my wife when I spotted this vessel with large cranes on the back in the Bay.
"I said: That's unusual' and thought it might have been a survey ship of some kind at first.
"The next minute one of the cranes, which was about four times the size of the one still on the barge, was gone. I saw the drums of oil falling off into the sea and phoned the coastguard, who said it was being handled."
Assistant chef at Café Oasis, Phil Emburey, 22, of Celandine Close, Weymouth, said: "The crane fell off and the whole thing started to tip over.
"It started to go shortly after I arrived for work.
"It's been a bit of entertainment in a way for the customers."
A spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said the crane which fell into the water was still attached to the vessel by a chain, causing it to list.
He added that a small oil sheen' came from the crane but began dispersing in Weymouth Bay.
Coastguard commander for Dorset Mark Rodaway said: "In deteriorating weather conditions the mooring lines broke off the barge.
"The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is aware of the situation."
He added that counter pollution officers got to work in the area straight away.
Today the barge was due to undergo a survey by divers before plans for its removal were agreed.
Borough council staff assisted the clean-up operation and Coun Kate Wheller, spokesman for tourism, said the council would be asking for an investigation into the incident.
All the barrels have been recovered.
The Longsand assisted in removing debris from the dredging of Weymouth's inner harbour in the 90s.
Your Say YourThisisdorset
Jim Lad, on the bounty says...
11:55am Wed 24 Oct 07
oo arr!
Albo, Wyke Regis says...
1:36pm Wed 24 Oct 07
Andy W, Weymouth says...
1:47pm Wed 24 Oct 07
Albo wrote:It would be interesting to see how many barrels you can carry when you have three arms!
Keep it down, Jim, you'll have 'em coming down from Portland in swarms.
James Young, Dorchester says...
2:08pm Wed 24 Oct 07
Andy W wrote:I can carry 2 cups of coffee and 5 ring doughnuts.
Albo wrote: Keep it down, Jim, you'll have 'em coming down from Portland in swarms.It would be interesting to see how many barrels you can carry when you have three arms!
But not when fully clothed.
john, Weymouth says...
2:25pm Wed 24 Oct 07
quote
Jac, Weymouth says...
4:56pm Wed 24 Oct 07
James Young wrote:Well!!! are't you a Clever Dick ! lol
Andy W wrote:I can carry 2 cups of coffee and 5 ring doughnuts.
Albo wrote: Keep it down, Jim, you\'ll have \'em coming down from Portland in swarms.It would be interesting to see how many barrels you can carry when you have three arms!
But not when fully clothed.
Murr -made, says...
5:23pm Wed 24 Oct 07
The rave is still on,
Bollie and what ever takes your fancy, us Murr-mades need a lively do, just turn up as you are!!
AL44, Weymouth says...
6:02pm Wed 24 Oct 07
Albo, Wyke Regis says...
6:37pm Wed 24 Oct 07
Charming.
Why couldn't it have been carrying rum, motorbikes and lusty wenches?
Jim Lad, on the bounty says...
7:12pm Wed 24 Oct 07
Albo wrote:What would you do with a rusty wrench ?
AL44: BBC is reporting there's fuel coming from a crane carried on the barge, and that some of the barrels are, in fact, oil drums. Charming. Why couldn't it have been carrying rum, motorbikes and lusty wenches?
.. where's my reading glasses..?
deb, dorch says...
9:22pm Wed 24 Oct 07
MICHAEL MILLAR, says...
9:30pm Wed 24 Oct 07
15 MEN ON A DEAD MANS CHEST, HO HO HO & A BOTTLE OF RUM says...
10:13pm Wed 24 Oct 07
The Portland Coastguard comment...
"We're trying to found out what is in the barrels." ...makes me wonder if they KNOW THEY ARE FULL OF RUM !!!
Albo, Wyke Regis says...
10:50pm Wed 24 Oct 07
"Yer me bessht friend, hic!" says a Coastguard Spokesman, "Lussshty wencheseses all round!!"
Weymouth wench, overboard says...
11:11pm Wed 24 Oct 07
Jim Lad, on the bounty says...
10:44am Thu 25 Oct 07
hic!
Portland Bill, says...
10:54am Thu 25 Oct 07
"It started to go shortly after I arrived for work.
OK, now we know who's to blame.
Andy W, Weymouth says...
1:20pm Thu 25 Oct 07
The pirate replies "We was caught in a monster storm off the cape and a giant wave swept me overboard. Just as they were pullin' me out a school of sharks appeared and one of 'em bit me leg off".
"Blimey!" said the seaman. "What about the hook"?
"Ahhhh...", mused the pirate, "We were boardin' a trader ship, pistols blastin' and swords swingin' this way and that. In the fracas me hand got chopped off."
"Blimey!" remarked the seaman. "And how came ye by the eye patch?"
"A seagull droppin' fell into me eye", answered the pirate.
"You lost your eye to a seagull dropping?" the sailor asked incredulously.
"Well..." said the pirate; " it was me first day with the hook."
http://users.eastlin
k.ca/~grahamfamily/j
oke3.htm
Jim Lad, on the bounty says...
1:29pm Thu 25 Oct 07
Portland Bill wrote:We sure do.. If Phil had taken the day off, none of this would have happened!
Assistant chef at Café Oasis, Phil Emburey, 22, of Celandine Close, Weymouth, said: "The crane fell off and the whole thing started to tip over. "It started to go shortly after I arrived for work. OK, now we know who's to blame.
muff, weymuff says...
3:12pm Thu 25 Oct 07
only the diesel from the digger is leaking, and it will so disperse, with no effect to wildlife.
mountain out of molehill again.
captain cat, says...
4:20pm Thu 25 Oct 07
Andy W wrote:
An able-bodied seaman meets a pirate in a bar, and they take turns recounting their adventures at sea. Noting the pirate's peg-leg, hook, and eye patch The seaman asks "So, how did you end up with the peg-leg?" The pirate replies "We was caught in a monster storm off the cape and a giant wave swept me overboard. Just as they were pullin' me out a school of sharks appeared and one of 'em bit me leg off". "Blimey!" said the seaman. "What about the hook"? "Ahhhh...", mused the pirate, "We were boardin' a trader ship, pistols blastin' and swords swingin' this way and that. In the fracas me hand got chopped off." "Blimey!" remarked the seaman. "And how came ye by the eye patch?" "A seagull droppin' fell into me eye", answered the pirate. "You lost your eye to a seagull dropping?" the sailor asked incredulously. "Well..." said the pirate; " it was me first day with the hook." http://users.eastlin k.ca/~grahamfamily/j oke3.htm
C'mon, give us another one , just like the other one ,pleeeeeeeeeze!!
pirate princess, treasure island says...
8:03pm Thu 25 Oct 07
"A good haul I hope" says the captain.
"I'm afraid not captain," replied the first mate. "I think we picked a poor village to raid," he continued.
"What!" exclaimed the captain, "How much money did you get?"
"All we found were a few copper coins," replied the first mate.
"Did you try the church? Did they have any fine tapestries or Holy treasures?" asked the Captain.
"All we got was a wooden alter," replied the first mate.
"What about the farms?" asked the captain. "Did they have any animals we can eat, or sell at market?"
"One donkey" replied the first mate.
"One donkey!" exclaimed the Captain.
"Aaaargh" replied the first mate, and he continued .................
.................
.................
.................
.................
"It was the only bray in the pillage."
AL44, Weymouth says...
9:53pm Thu 25 Oct 07
muff wrote:How long will it take to disperse? I've been watching on and off since yesterday am and there is still a substantial 'slick' in the water. Even a small amount of diesel can affect aquatic life.
typical echo... 10 or 15 EMPTY drums washed up with a bit of debris, and 3 full barrels still onboard the barge(SECURED) with diesel in. only the diesel from the digger is leaking, and it will so disperse, with no effect to wildlife. mountain out of molehill again.
Cap'n Ben, Treasure Island says...
11:24am Fri 26 Oct 07
'Cos they Arrrrrrr
WILDLIFE CONCERN: The barge in trouble off Weymouth
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amazed, Boot Hill says...
10:52am Wed 24 Oct 07
Oh but it's gone now:(