Vessel runs aground in Marsascala

The 200-foot-long bunkering vessel Golden Bay was re-floated after a six-hour operation to lift it off a reef she had settled on in Marsascala at about 6am yesterday.

The vessel, which was empty apart from 15 tonnes of diesel for its own consumption, was eventually hauled off the reef by a tugboat at 11.45am.

The activity started at about 7.30am when the authorities were informed that the Golden Bay, which is owned by Island Bunkering, had run aground. It is understood that the very high currents that were pulling in the area were just too much for the vessel