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Published January 23, 2012, 02:30 PM

Oil slick seen near capsized Italian ship

ROME (AP) — Italian officials coordinating the rescue and anti-pollution efforts on the Costa Concordia cruise ship say an oily film has been spotted about 300 meters (yards) from the capsized vessel.

By: Colleen Barry and Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press, The Jamestown Sun

  • Cruise Ship
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    The grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia lies on its side off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Salvage experts can begin pumping fuel from a capsized cruise ship as early as Tuesday to avert a possible environmental catastrophe and the ship is stable enough that search efforts for the missing can continue, Italian officials said. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

ROME (AP) — Italian officials coordinating the rescue and anti-pollution efforts on the Costa Concordia cruise ship say an oily film has been spotted about 300 meters (yards) from the capsized vessel.

The film was spotted Monday by officials flying in a helicopter and by residents of Giglio island.

Samples are being analyzed, the officials say, but preliminary observations indicate the slick is a light oil and not from heavy fuel inside the Concordia's tanks. Absorbent panels immediately put around the area seem to have at least partially absorbed the oil.

Earlier, officials said experts can begin pumping tons of heavy fuel from the ship as early as Tuesday to avert a possible environmental catastrophe in the area.

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