A significant environmental operation has been initiated following the spill of 22,000 litres of palm oil into the sea from the port of Algeciras. The incident occurred on Monday morning at the Juan Carlos I North Dock within the Bay of Gibraltar during unloading operations.

A six-metre flexi-tank container, carrying non-hazardous bulk liquid, ruptured during the process, releasing the substantial volume of oil. According to APM Terminals, the Port Authority, the event took place during the unloading of a container designed for transporting non-hazardous liquid bulk goods.

Authorities quickly activated the Maritime Protection Plan upon detecting the leak. Specialized teams deployed containment barriers around the dock to prevent the oil from spreading into the surrounding waters. The scale of the spill raised concerns about potential risks to the bay's marine ecosystems.

While less toxic than crude oil, palm oil can still harm marine life by coating birds, fish, and other creatures, affecting their breathing, feeding, and movement. It can also solidify quickly, complicating its removal. Clean-up operations, involving specialized vessels and crews, have been ongoing throughout the morning to recover the spilled material.

Terminal sources indicate the situation is now 'under control', although clean-up efforts continue as authorities assess the full extent of the spill. The Port of Algeciras remains fully operational, with enhanced monitoring in place as a precautionary measure.