Windy days in Odesa, Ukraine

November 2019 Odessa Ukraine had strong winds off the Black Sea. In the parks, there were a number of broken limbs on the trees. But all and all everything was good. Until a little known secret was exposed.

Not far off in the Odesa Bay on the Black Sea, there was a ship of about 40 meters long (125 feet) approx. It was anchored for many years, and it seems it provided a place to transfer rubbish waste liquids, well the heavy winds broke the vessel loose, and it drifted along with the wind. The vessel was not monitored while being anchored, and the owner was not present. The owner was contacted and told his vessel had broken away from the anchored spot. The news at the time reported he did not want anyone to touch it. It would have been so easy to catch it and bring it to a safe location, but it looks like he did not want the expense. Or was he hiding something, and he did not want to be found out. Either way, after a few hours, the vessel ended up on top of the breakwater 40 meters from the nice sand beach. With the strong winds and the new hole in the hull, the vessel laid over on its side, and it still sits in that same location eight months later.

A couple of weeks ago, the Priminister of Ukraine was in the town of Odessa Ukraine and saw the vessel on its side. What is this, Odesa Ukraine? The tourism hub for all of Ukraine, could not clean up a simple mishap. As a result, it was promised to be removed by July 20, 2020, well… that has now been extended to August 1, 2020… We will see…

It is normal that the vessel would have waste fluids and other contaminants that would destroy marine life and bring on environmental damages. And that is what has been happening for eight months. Local governing officials just turn a blind eye to the large eyesore. You must wonder who was paid - what do not press the owner to get it cleaned up!?

In a place like Canada, this would not happen. The owners would be held liable for the speedy clean up regardless of the cost. The owners would have no option but to comply with the decree laid out, and if foul play was found out on top of the charges for not properly securing your vessel, so be it.

Here we are in the middle of the busy tourist season, and the President needed to say, Hey, get this cleaned up. You see, in November, when it happened, if they would have just done it all would be back to normality at this time.

I heard the number of $15,000.00 USD is the cost of the clean up to remove the vessel and clean up the zone. This, to me, is crazy! $15,000.00 USD would be the fist appraisal cost in Canada. The real cost would be nothing shy of $5,000,000.00 USD.

Corruption is deep in Ukraine, so much so the local governing person sees the importance of protecting the owner from the expense.

Time will tell how they manage the situation. I hope they have great results, and I hope the mess is cleaned up soon it is a terrible eyesore!