Leaking oil pipeline in Mersey for a month to be sorted

A pipeline that has been leaking oil into the River Mersey for almost a month is expected to be sorted soon.

Oil started pouring from old pipes connected to a dilapidated section of the Rock Ferry in Wirral on April 25 after work was carried out to remove part of it. Videos shared with the ECHO showed thick, black oil dripping onto the banks of the Mersey, with the material still flowing from a broken pipe three days later.

The person who shot the videos at the time said they were concerned about the impact on wildlife, adding: “The smell is horrible and it smells like oil heaven.” On May 18, he shot several videos showing the thick black oil still accumulating. the mud at the base of one of the broken pipes.

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The Environment Agency said there was “minimal dispersal of oil into the water and no environmental problems”. Work to remove the last section of the pipeline is expected to be completed in a few days.

The wharf crane collapsed in 2019 and since then, the safety and condition of the structure has continued to deteriorate due to severe winter storms and acts of vandalism. To prevent people from climbing the structure, the Rock Ferry Maritime Hub, which now owns the jetty and ramp, hired a contractor to try to prevent trespassers from entering the jetty.

However, as parts of the dam were demolished, the oil left in the pipelines spilled onto the bank of the river which is in a protected area. Emergency measures had to be taken to limit the impact of the spill and part of the waterfront was closed.

On May 21, Cliff Renshaw of the Rock Ferry Waterfront Trust said: “Apart from the silt below the spill joint, all other silt on the seabed has been removed, but it appears the most recent spill came from the inclined pipe which still had some residue. sludge that was warmed by Saturday’s warm weather, causing it to ooze out of the open end of the pipe. This is sealed this morning.

“Together with a structural engineer, our civil engineering contractor has prepared a method statement to stabilize the levee and fix the leaks, but the problem is that the contractor cannot remove the last section of pipe because it supports the remaining part of the pipe. fragile embankment that needs to be stable before we can remove that section of pipe and cover it.”

He added: “They are actively working to secure the dyke so that the last piece of pipe can be removed and any final spillage can then be cleaned up. The contractor confirms that everything will be completed in the next four days.”

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “Our officers responded quickly when this incident was first reported on 25 April 2024. They observed minimal oil spillage into the water and no environmental issues.

“We are working with those responsible for cleaning the sand and structure, Peel Ports, as well as the Marine & Coastguard Agency.

“We continue to visit the site to ensure the work is being completed in accordance with pollution remediation standards.”

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