Polluted sand and seaweed were removed from a stretch of shoreline in Dublin Bay yesterday as the clean-up after a weekend oil spill continued.
Up to 70 people were engaged in the latest phase of the operation at Sutton Strand, which followed earlier attempts to vacuum up some of the estimated 200 tonnes of diesel which leaked into the bay when a storage tank overflowed at Tedcastle Oil Products early on Saturday.
Dublin Port Company, which is overseeing the clean-up, said several acres of beach were cleared of seaweed yesterday. The work will continue today, according to a spokesman, who rejected suggestions that the effort had been intensified after criticism of the initial response.
"There are three distinct phases to an operation like this. First we had to contain the spill so far as we could. Then we took as much oil from the water as possible when it came in towards the shore, with helicopter guidance. And the third phase is the clean-up of the beach itself, which is happening now and will continue through the week."
Personnel from the Department of the Marine, Fingal County Council and Dublin Corporation, as well as port company staff, are taking part in the work. The county council is continuing to warn residents against swimming in the area, and has posted signs to that effect.
Tedcastle said an inquiry into the accident was continuing, but otherwise declined to comment.
