Fishing boat sinks at Roja port

RIGA - A fishing boat has sunk in the waters of the western Latvian port of Roja and rescuers are working at the site to prevent oil products from the vessel from reaching the sea, LETA was told at the State Fire and Rescue Service.

On 5:00 a.m. Monday the State Fire and Rescue Service received information from the Naval Coastguard Service that a ship had sunk at the Roja port and that an oil slick could be seen on the surface of the water.

The oil slick was reportedly floating in the port's canal towards the sea.

LETA was told at the Naval Forces that a SOS signal had been received from a danbuoy.

Rescuers placed absorbing booms in the port's canal to prevent the oil pollution from reaching the sea. Works at the site continue to deploy booms across the full width of the port canal.

The accident has been reported to the State Environmental Service.

Rescuers are working at the site in cooperation with the Roja port authority.

Roja harbormaster Janis Megnis told LETA that the fishing boat, owned by Zvejnieku Saimnieciba Irbe fishing company, sank at the wharf. The cause of the accident has yet to be established. The fishing boat was reportedly in a good technical condition and went to sea on a regular basis. "The ship's owner has already found divers who will prepare the vessel for lifting from the water. After that, it will be possible to determine what caused it to sink," the harbormaster said.

He noted that thanks to the professional response of the State Fire and Rescue Service, the  leaking of oil products has been restricted.