Owner of barge that sunk, created chemical spill in May finally recovers it from 26 feet of water
The 110-foot barge lacked proper permits when it capsized and sank in May, spilling 180 tons of ammonium nitrate into the sea near the shore in Caldera (Pinterest / CR Hoy)
September 23rd, 2015 (ICR News) Fertica, the Costa Rican company that owns a barge that spilled 180 tons of ammonium nitrate when in it sunk in the vicinity of the Port of Caldera in Puntarenas, has finally removed their sunken vessel which has rested in 26 feet of water since it sank in May.
Though warning buoys had been placed around the 110-foot wreck, its continued presence for more than four months posed the risk of maritime accidents with other ships traveling in the area, officials said.
The barge, which did not have valid certification and navigation permits, spilled 180 tons of ammonium nitrate when it capsized and sank in May near the crowded beach close to the port of Caldera, which led to the declaration of an emergency and a three-day fishing and swimming ban.
Ammonium nitrate is a chemical commonly used in fertilizers and explosives. Short-term exposure to the chemical by humans can cause skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness.
The company and its officials could face penalties of up to three years in prison and fines for environmental damage, deputy transport minister Sebastian Urbina said in May.
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