Update 2: Ecuador Declares Emergency after Floreana Grounding

Ecuador has declared a state of emergency Wednesday, one week after the general cargo ship Floreana ran aground while carrying provisions and hazardous materials from the island of San Cristobal to Puerto Ayora, the Governing Council of Galapagos said in a statement.

The emergency ”will allow authorities to have immediate (financial) means to deal with the situation,” a Galapagos National Park spokesman told AFP.

At the time of the incident, the 1984-built, 2658 dwt ship was carrying 1500 tons of cargo and 13,000 gallons of fuel. The ship’s faulty propulsion system and ballast tanks are the possible causes of the accident.

Earlier this week, the Governor of the province Jorge Torres said that the vessel “is quite run down” after the stranding, and once all the cargo is unloaded, it will be towed to sea and scuttled.

The authority stated that around 500 tons of perishable goods are lost.

World Maritime News Staff; Image: Consejo de Gobierno de Galápagos