ADOLF JENSEN

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Efforts to contain oil spill hampered by tides, currents and wind

Emergency personnel in Greenland near the community of Nanortalik worked over the weekend of Sep 21/22 to contain a 20,000 liters oil spill following the sinking of the 'Adolf Jensen'. The Greenland Police investigation unit didn’t know where the oil was coming from on the ship, or how much has leaked. Initial efforts to contain the spill using floating barriers and pumps were hampered by tides, currents and wind. The Ministry for Environment and Emergency Management has since escalated requests for aid to include the Danish Navy’s Arctic Command. Over the weekend extra personnel were called to the scene, as the cleanup efforts continued. Oil films were visible on the water surface in the Nanortalik fjords. The vessel’s crew and passengers were able to safely evacuate and reach the shore prior to the vessel’s sinking around five hours after the small expedition tour vessel ran aground en route to Qaqortoq while navigating past Nanortalk a about 0145 a.m. and began taking on water at a position near the Tasermiut Fjord, north of the town. The Nanortalik fire brigade used a nearby landing craft, the 'Atitooq''to transfer a dewatering pump and oil containment gear out to the ship. However, at 07.05 a.m. the 'Adolf Jensen' sank.

Fire fighters trying to contain oil spill

A team of firefighters tried to manage a spill of diesel fuel which leaked from the 'Adolf Jesen' after it sank off the coast of Greenland, threatening the marine ecosystem of the Arctic waters. Hydrocarbon films could be seen on the water surface in Nanortalik Fjords in the south. Around 20,000 litres or 5300 gallons of fuel spilt and reached the fjord even though pumps and a floating barrage were installed. Elements including wind, tides and sea currents posed additional difficulties in efforts to contain the oil spill, said firefighters who had also received additional equipment.

Scientific exploration ship sank near Nanortalik

On Sep 19, 2024, at around 1.45 a.m. the “Adolf Jensen” ran aground near the town of Nanortalik, Greenland, and started taking on water during a regular polar explorations. Firefighters and local authorities went to the scene with the landing ship 'Atitooq', loaded with a pump and oil containment equipment to prevent the 15,000 to 20,000 liters of diesel contained in the tank and nearly 1,000 liters of engine oil from spilling. The ship sank at 7:05 a.m.. The four crew members were evacuated. An oil boom was placed in a circle of approximately 50 meters in diameter around the 'Adolf Jensen' to prevent any pollution. The flotation device extended 50 cm deep. Some diesel leaked and caused an oil spill that firefighters were trying to contain in the nearby fjords. The environment and civil protection ministry requested assistance from the Arctic command of the Danish Navy to recover and treat the leaked fuel.