A vegetable oil spill is the cause of the red stain in the sea.
The company responsible for the product, GME, estimates that approximately 3.900 liters of crude palm oil were spilled from a vessel and reports that it has already taken all necessary technical measures. The director of infrastructure and port management at Companhia das Docas, Mário Lima Julião, explains that the material dilutes easily and is not toxic, therefore there will be no environmental damage.
Ceara 247 - A red stain reached Mucuripe beach, in Fortaleza, in the early hours of Tuesday (7). The stain, which appeared in the port of Mucuripe, reached the shore in the vicinity of Volta da Jurema, giving off a bad smell that bothered residents and tourists. The spillage of vegetable oil by a vessel from the company GME was the cause.
“At 4:20 AM, a leak was detected in the pipeline that carries palm oil to the factory. It likely arose from overpressure in the drain,” explains Mário Lima Julião, director of infrastructure and port management at Companhia das Docas.
The spilled material is crude palm oil, a raw material for the manufacture of vegetable fat, a food product classified as "non-hazardous". A containment line was formed to remove the residue, using boats.
The State Superintendence of the Environment (Semace), through its Inspection Directorate, informs that upon learning of the fact, on the morning of this Tuesday (7), it contacted the Brazilian Institute of the Environment (Ibama). Also in the morning, technicians from Ibama, Seuma and Docas began the procedures. A technician from the Analysis and Monitoring Management of Semace also went to the site and collected a water sample for analysis. The report should be released this Thursday (9).
The factory responsible for the incident informed Semace (the environmental agency) of an estimated 3.900 liters spilled. The communication to the agency also indicated that the leak has been contained and that the cleanup of the material from the sea and the beach is underway. Mário Lima Julião emphasizes that the product dilutes easily and is not toxic, therefore there will be no environmental damage.
Full GME statement:
"GME reports that, this morning, a leak of edible vegetable oil was registered in one of the pipelines used to unload the product transported by ship. Edible vegetable oil is not toxic. Due to its density, the product will remain on the surface of the sea, which facilitates its removal."
As soon as it became aware of the incident, the company took all necessary technical measures and managed to stop the leak. The factory has a contingency plan and immediately contacted the specialized company contracted for containment, removal, and cleaning of the product. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), as well as the Port Authority of Ceará, have already been notified, and their respective agents have the full cooperation of the company.
(With information from Tribuna do Ceará)