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Spill from sinking sewage barge Spill from sinking sewage barge
(about 4 hours later)
A barge carrying treated sewage has started to sink off Southampton, sparking environmental fears.A barge carrying treated sewage has started to sink off Southampton, sparking environmental fears.
The Humber Star started taking on water at about 0600 GMT at the mouth of the River Itchen at Woolston and remains partially submerged on the jetty. The Humber Star started taking on water at about 0400 GMT at the mouth of the River Itchen at Woolston and remains partially submerged on the jetty.
An amount of waste has leaked into the water and Environment Agency emergency officers are at the scene. Nobody was on board and 400 tonnes of diesel and sludge were being sealed and contained, said the operators.
The nearby oil spill response centre has been alerted and booms have been placed in the sea to contain the spill. An Environment Agency emergency team are at the scene. Booms have been placed in the sea to contain the waste.
They were deposited after a nearby oil spill response centre was alerted.
'Salvage operations'
Oran Environmental Solutions, the specialist waste management services company which operates the barge, said: "Measures to minimise the impact of the incident, such as the sealing and containment of 400 tonnes respectively of diesel and sludge have been successfully undertaken.
"Salvage operations are currently underway to take the vessel from the sea.
"No cause for the incident has as yet been identified but this is currently under investigation by the authorities."
Oran, which has also started its own investigation, said "it may take some time before the cause is determined".
The spillage is being managed by the port operator Associated British Ports (ABP), which says the situation is under control but continuing.The spillage is being managed by the port operator Associated British Ports (ABP), which says the situation is under control but continuing.
An amount of diesel has also spilled into the water.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Our involvement is to have emergency officers down there monitoring the situation.An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Our involvement is to have emergency officers down there monitoring the situation.
"ABP is taking the lead with the clean up operation at the moment." "ABP is taking the lead with the clean-up operation at the moment."
An ABP spokeswoman said: "The barge contained treated sludge and diesel fuel and the spill was deemed as a tier two incident.An ABP spokeswoman said: "The barge contained treated sludge and diesel fuel and the spill was deemed as a tier two incident.
"A tier two incident means that outside assistance to contain the spill is required. "A tier two incident means that outside assistance to contain the spill is required."
"Clean up of the spill is underway and other precautionary measures are in place to minimise the impact of the incident."