Owner called to solve Ostedijk problem

The Spanish government has called on the owner of the Ostedijk, the Navigia Group of the Netherlands, to present a salvage plan for the bulk carrier whose 6,000 tonnes of decomposed fertiliser remain on fire off the coast of Galicia, north-west Spain. Late yesterday afternoon, Spanish maritime safety authority Salvamento Maritimo changed its plans to bring the Ostedijk into sheltered waters after the captain of the vessel was rushed to hospital suffering from the effects of gas intoxication. The Ostedijk now remains about 13n-miles off Estaca de Bares near Cape Viveiro, Galicia. Madrid has so far ruled out any decision to bring the ship close to the coastline, allegedly to avoid the any intoxication risk to local residents. Rough weather yesterday hampered attempts to drench the cargo with water to extinguish the fire. Plumes of smoke continue to rise from the Ostedijk and eyewitnesses have reported the appearance of a hovering, mushroom-shaped orange cloud above the ship. The Navigia Group this morning said it was doing all it could to resolve the situation, but declined to add further comment.