Gabes: oil tanker carrying 750 tons of diesel sank

On 16 April 2022, the oil tanker "Xelo", carrying 750 tons of diesel sank in the Gulf of Gabes in southeast Tunisia.

The 58-meter long and 9-meter wide vessel, flying the Equatorial Guinean flag, was en route to Malta from the port of Damietta in Egypt.

Facing bad weather conditions, the cargo ship had requested to take refuge in Tunisian waters. The tanker took on nearly two meters of water in the engine room. The local authorities managed to evacuate all seven crew members on board the vessel.

For the time being, no leakage of the cargo has been noted. However, the Tunisian government fears an environmental disaster should the 750 tons of diesel fuel spill into the Gulf waters.