Oil tanker remains anchored off Galway coast

Fuel supplies running low

AN OIL tanker that was originally due to dock at Galway Port this morning (Friday) remains anchored off the coast this evening.

Thun Gemini, a tanker ship understood to be carrying up to six million litres of agri and white diesel along with kerosene home heating oil, was due to dock in Galway at 8am this morning.

A spokesperson for the Port of Galway confirmed to The Tuam Herald that the vessel arrived safely and was currently taking shelter from the weather. They are awaiting further instructions from Circle K.

It’s unclear if the tanker will be able to unload as the fuel storage tanks at the docks are already full and the ongoing fuel protest at the site are blocking any fuel distribution tankers from entering.

Many filling stations around the city and county have run out of diesel in particular with others putting a cap on the amount motorists can purchase at a time. Panicked motorists queued up at service stations throughout the county yesterday and today amid fears of a fuel shortage at the weekend.

Earlier today, Micheal Martin voiced his concern that the protests could result in oil due to be delivered to Ireland having to turn away from the country in the middle of a global oil supply problem.

He described the situation as “very severe”, suggesting the blockades could lead to somebody else buying the oil if tankers cannot land soon.

In the region of 50 protestors have been at Galway docks over the past four days with many more supporters gathering there each night. Protestors said that while they were sympathetic to those experiencing fuel shortages, they have no intention of leaving until their demands are met.

“All most of us want is to see diesel prices capped, as so many people are struggling. There is a lot here who won’t survive past the summer if something isn’t done to address growing fuel prices,” one truck driver from North Galway told The Tuam Herald.

“This must end soon. The pumps are getting low all over Galway. That’s going to lead to people being unable to go to work as they can’t drive their car, and school buses not turning up come Monday.”