Latvian agency suspects ship discharged oil washed ashore

Oil products washed ashore along Latvia’s Kurzeme coast may have been discharged from a ship, the State Environmental Service said, after laboratory analysis ruled out historical pollution, LSM reported.

Initial tests found mainly light petroleum products, including diesel fuel and gas oil. The service is continuing to investigate the source and plans further detailed analysis.

The agency is working with responsible institutions in Latvia and abroad to identify the ship that may have illegally discharged the oil into the sea.

The pollution was found at Ventspils beach over the previous weekend and stretches for more than 30 kilometres along the coast.