The saga that is the “Seikongen” seems to be closer to some kind of closure as authorities finally approve a plan to move the wellboat’s rotten cargo.
The Regional Ministry of Chile (SEREMIS) responsible for health and the environment as well as the National Fisheries Service, the Superintendency of Environment and Maritime Authority have authorised a five stage plan according to the site elrepuertero.
The “Seikongen” tow operation started in late July, after the boat sank outside the village of Chonchi, just south of Castro on Isla Chiloé in southern Chile nine months ago.
Since the successful rising of the wellboat, the vessel has been in limbo, at the centre of a maritime tug-of-war. It’s has been barred from several ports, including the port of Talcahuano, and has prompted after major protests from the local community worried about the impact of an environmental “atomic bomb” near to their shores.
Acompañado del Gabinete Regional en #Osorno, informamos a la ciudadanía en conferencia de prensa, que el tratamiento de residuos orgánicos de barco #Seikongen cumple con toda normativa medioambiental y se realiza de acuerdo a Protocolo similar, aprobado en noviembre de 2017. pic.twitter.com/1vtXXCEu1I
— Harry Jürgensen Caesar (@HarryJurgensen) September 13, 2018
Now it seems that a collective solution – albeit an illustrated one – is on the horizon.
The process will begin in Puerto Montt where the 100 tonnes cargo of rotten salmon will be moved by specialist vessels. It will then go to the Port of San José de Calbuco where the salmon farmer, Fiordo Austral will process it. The waste will be then transferred to transport trucks that will go to the Los Glaciares de Panitao plant in Puerto Montt. Then, finally the “sludge” that remains will be taken to a ditch at the industrial waste company “Ecoprial” located in Osorno, south-central Chile.
The masterplan – drawn below – is expected to take between 4 to 5 days.
Revisa aquí el Plan dado a conocer por Armada y autoridades regionales referente a la extracción, descarga y disposición final de residuos orgánicos del Wellboat, cuyo proceso de descarga, debidamente autorizado por las autoridades competentes, se espera demore entre 4 a 5 días. pic.twitter.com/naz5p0bF3B
— Intendencia Región de Los Lagos (@Int_LosLagos) September 12, 2018
