The Ecuador-flagged reefer Galapaface 1 (1979/1,183gt) ran aground at Wreck Bay, near the entrance to the harbour at Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal island, the easternmost of the Galapagos inhabited islands at 0315 local time on 9 May.
It is understood that the vessel’s engine room was holed, with ensuing water ingress, but bunker tanks were not breached, and fortunately there was no threat of pollution in the highly environmentally sensitive area. The vessel was fenced off with booms, and salvage work was soon under way, with salvors and crew offloading cargo and pumping out fuel.
A consortium of Ecuadorian and Spanish companies plans to attach tanks to the hull to stabilise it following the completion of lightering operations. It will then be towed to the outskirts of the Galapagos Marine Reserve and scuttled.
