26-01-2009 par Elisa ROUTATons of wheat for the Mediterranean sea!

During Tuesday night, a Turkich boat sunk off the mediterranean sea. The risk is that the freighter spreads 3,000 tons of wheat in the deep seabeds.

In pitch-dark night, the boat called « Gunay II » cast away on the Planier Islan near Marseilles. After being dragged behind the VB Provence and the Marseillais 5, up to the Marseilles harbour, the hull of the 20 years of age-boat, has been checked.

And why is it such a serious matter to find wheat into the sea ?

We can remind us the story about the shipwreck of the Fenes boat in 1996*. This ship had caused serious damages in the seabeds because wheat is a dangerous product for the marine environment. When wheat ferments, three products spread out from the wheat that the sea finds quite difficult to ‘digest’: sulphurated hydrogen, methyl alcohol, and ethanol. These three damaging chemical products make the access impossible for divers.

Results ?

Surfrider is worried about the situation and wished the marine transport was done thanks to recent and safe freighters.

In case of dramatic consequences for the seabeds, Surfrider Foundation will act carefully. For the moment, we are following the current events of the information.

 

*In 1996, the boat called Funes was carrying 2,500 tons of wheat. It wrecked causing serious damages over the marine environment. Indeed, 8 acres had been burnt because of the fermentation of the wheat.

Photos: National Navy