Fuel from a Norwegian cruise ship has spilled onto the coastline of an Antarctic island after the vessel ran aground nearby, a scientist from Spain's base in the area said on Thursday.
The MS Nordkapp, carrying 370 people, briefly ran aground on Tuesday near Deception Island off the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, then refloated itself, Norwegian owners Hurtigruten Group said.
"We confirm that there has been a spill, given that traces of hydrocarbons have been detected," Raul Perez, a scientist at Spain's Antarctic base, told Spanish state radio. He said more than 5km of coast had been hit.
An international treaty designates Antarctica a nature reserve and calls on member countries to quickly tackle environmental emergencies and establish liability for environmental damage
Hurtigruten said it followed safety procedures to prevent a spill after the 123-metre long vessel anchored itself in Whalers Bay, just off the island, following the incident.
"We had laid out oil protection equipment around the ship but we have not observed any oil spillage from the vessel," Hurtigruten's spokeswoman Hanne Kristiansen told Reuters.
Spain's Antarctic survey base, located close to where the ship ran aground in north-west Antarctica, said it could not measure the complete expanse of the spill as it had no aerial monitoring equipment.
"The ecological system has been harmed, it's going to stay in the sediment and its going to affect the area," Perez said.
The MS Nordkapp was set to continue towards Ushuaia, Argentina, with another vessel while passengers were transported to Argentina on a different ship.
