Costa de la Luz
The Guardia Civil opens an investigation into the cargo from the New Flame
By h.b.
Apr 5, 2008 - 3:55 PM

The Guardia Civil have opened an investigation into the movement of the scrap metal cargo from the half sunken vessel ‘New Flame’ which remains off Europa Point in Gibraltar since colliding with a tanker on August 12 last year. More than 200 tons of the cargo is reported to now have been taken from the vessel and brought onto Spanish soil by a Cádiz company, Reciclajas Campo de Gibraltar, which has been given the job.

The Environment Department of the Regional Government is reported to be investigating possible illegalities in the importation of the scrap. The Spanish Foreign Ministry says that communication has always been fluid with the Gibraltar authorities on the matter, but they are investigating to see whether European legislation on the importation of residues has been met.

Greenpeace has commented that it fears that the salvage operation is leading to possible new contamination of the environment. They have called on the Junta de Andalucía to stop the movement of the scrap until its composition is fully known and the presence of dangerous materials can be ruled out. Greenpeace say they have spent the last seven months asking for details about the 42,000 ton cargo, which according to some reports consists of car batteries, used exhaust pipes and in the worst case, radioactive substances.