Intensive clean-up operation under way at Freeport following oil spill

An intensive clean-up operation is under way following an oil spill last night from a container vessel berthed at Malta Freeport Terminals.

The incident happened while the container vessel Leonie P was undergoing bunkering operations at the Terminal 2 South Quay.

According to statement from Malta Freeport, teams from the Freeport Terminals, Cassar Ship Repair and Transport Malta worked throughout the night and have contained the spill within the basin between Terminals 1 and 2.

The cause of the spill is not yet clear, but it seems to have originated from the container ship, Malta Freeport said, adding that no reports of bathing areas being affected have come in.

Booms have been deployed to ensure the spill remains contained, but inspections are ongoing.

“We take every possible precaution to ensure incidents of this nature do not occur, but our personnel are trained to handle these incidents and have been doing everything possible to resolve this issue as quickly as possible,” a spokesman for Malta Freeport Terminals said.