Media exaggerating oil spill off Irish coast - Russian navy
Media reports are exaggerating the scope of an oil spill off the coast of Ireland, a Russian Navy spokesman said on Tuesday according to RIA Novosti.
Ireland's RTE channel reported on Monday that two Russian warships had spilled 12 tons of oil into the sea some 400 km (250 miles) off the coast of Ireland, probably while refueling. Other media said up to 400 tons could have been spilled.
"The nature and reasons for the possible pollution will be determined by experts only after a comprehensive probe," said Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo. "It is now absolutely clear that its scope does not correspond to media reports, it [the spill] is not catastrophic and poses no environmental threat to the shoreline."
Although he confirmed that Russian warships had carried out refueling in the region, he also ruled out that an emergency situation might have occurred.