Trawler firm fined over spillage

The National Marine Aquarium had to stop taking water from the River Plym

A Plymouth trawler company has been fined £20,000 after admitting that one of its fishing vessels polluted the harbour with tonnes of diesel oil.

The incident in October 2008 happened when a trawlerman transferring fuel from one tank to another forgot to turn off the pump, city magistrates heard.

Five swans became oiled swans and the National Marine Aquarium was unable to take seawater for six days.

Trawler owner Interfish Wirons Ltd was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs.

Stinging eyes

Trawlerman Rene Van Rijn, from Zuidholland, in the Netherlands, was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £700 costs after admitting causing poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter controlled waters.

Members of the public raised the alarm on 16 October when they saw a thick slick of oil on the surface of the water in Plymouth Sound and the River Plym and a strong smell of diesel.

The pollution was traced to a trawler, the Wiron 1, moored at Victoria Wharf in Cattewater.

Van Rijn, an engineer on board the trawler, admitted starting a pump on the vessel the previous evening to transfer diesel from one fuel tank to another.

He told Environment Agency officers he visited another fishing vessel during the pumping operation and became distracted. He then went to bed.

When he woke the fuel tank had run dry. It is estimated that six tonnes or 6,000 litres of fuel was lost.

This was a serious pollution incident that could have easily been avoided Matthew Lee, Environment Agency

Interfish Wirons deployed its own absorbent booms and pads to soak up some of the oil.

But the court heard how the incoming tide pushed the diesel up into the Plym Estuary, into Hooe Lake and Radford Lake.

One member of the public at Yacht Haven Quay reported feeling nauseous and having stinging eyes as a result of the strong smell of diesel near his home.

The court heard that the Environment Agency had warned Interfish in 2007 following a less serious spill in 2007.

Matthew Lee for the Environment Agency, said: "This was a serious pollution incident that could have easily been avoided.

"The transfer of fuel on fishing vessels requires constant supervision and members of the crew must remain on board."

The company said it had since installed alarms which automatically switch off a pump if the tank is overflowing.

Fleet manager Andrew Pillar said after the case: "We regret the incident and are very sorry that it ever happened."