The preliminary investigations concerning the grounding and the sinking of the CdryBlue motor ship on the evening of 21 December two years ago at Capo Sperone, on the island of Sant'Antioco, were concluded. The 12 crew members had been rescued by Coast Guard helicopters, while the wreck had remained on the reef for a long time awaiting removal. Two legal persons and three natural persons are under investigation.
The investigations by the judicial police, carried out by the Special Intervention Unit (NSI) of the General Command of the Port Authority Corps of Rome, showed that due to the negligent conduct implemented by the commander and two deck officers, the navigation had occurred in violation of relevant safety regulations and in such a way as to be characterized as seafaring inexperience, imprudence and negligence, among other things by maintaining highly dangerous routes in the presence of strong winds that pushed the merchant ship towards the nearby leeward coast of Sant ' Antiochus.
The ship, without cargo, left the port of Cagliari on 20 December 2019 directed to Spain in the presence of particularly adverse weather conditions, despite having technical problems (not reported to the Maritime Authority at the time of release of the shipments) which involved a reduction of power of the propulsive apparatus, proceeding then to the inversion of the course to look for a shelter.
After running aground, the CdryBlue had spilled large quantities of hydrocarbons of various types into the sea, which were never recovered despite some interventions by specialized companies, causing an environmental disaster consisting in the difficult reversible alteration of the marine environmental matrices and the deterioration of the atmospheric environmental matrix due to the sudden and lasting propagation of large quantities of hydrocarbon vapors.
The Cagliari Public Prosecutor disputes crimes relating to safety of navigation, environmental crimes of disaster and pollution, calling the shipowner and the ship's management company to respond to the related administrative responsibilities since the investigations have led to the determination that the crimes they were committed by the suspects in the interest and to the advantage of those companies.
(Unioneonline / ss)
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