Grounded Marco Polo Ferry Pulled Free as Additional Oil Spill Identified in Baltic Sea; Crew Fined for Recklessness

Swedish Coastguard reports more than 500 birds affected and over 50 cubic meters of oil removed following multiple groundings of the Germany-operated Marco Polo ferry, resulting in oil spills which washed ashore in Pukavik Bay.

The Marco Polo ferry, operated by Germany's TT-Line, grounded three times along Sweden's coast, leaking oil into the Baltic Sea and causing extensive environmental damage.
More than 500 birds have been affected by the oil slick, which stretched over three miles out to sea and washed ashore in Pukavik Bay.
Authorities have removed an estimated 50 cubic meters of oil, but it is unknown how much total oil was leaked from the vessel's fuel tanks which contained approximately 160 cubic meters of oil prior to the accidents.
The captain and an officer of the ferry have been fined by Swedish prosecutors for recklessness in relying on a faulty GPS system, resulting in the multiple groundings.
Despite the ferry's heavy damage and repeated groundings, no human casualties were reported; all 75 passengers and crew members were evacuated safely.