It carried between 750 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes of fuel, officials said. The Ministry of Defense did not name the countries that offered to help, but local media reported that Italy is expected to send a warship specialized in dealing with maritime disasters. A specialized diving team has started work around the ship to check for oil leaks. “The situation is reassuring and under control, and no oil spill has been reported from the sinking tank so far,” said Transport Minister Rabie Mazidi. He said the next stage was “delicate and sensitive”, as the ship had to get out of the water without being allowed to leak. On Saturday, Tunisian authorities launched an investigation into the sinking, which according to the environment ministry was caused by bad weather. “Tunisia will later determine the losses and demand compensation,” said Laila Chikaoui, the environment minister. The ministry said barriers would be created to limit the spread of fuel. The Gambes coast has been heavily polluted for years, with environmental groups saying industrial plants in the area are dumping waste directly into the sea.
