Investigation into Kemi oil spill continues as water samples remain clean

Water samples taken near Kemi’s Ajos port show no signs of oil contamination following a February spill, though monitoring will continue, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

In mid-February, an estimated 10,000 litres of light fuel oil leaked from the icebreaker-tug Jääsalo into the Ajos harbour basin, turning the water red. Rescue services later recovered around 7,500 litres of visible oil from the sea.

Recent tests conducted on March 8 by the Regional State Administrative Agency found no oil hydrocarbons in the water. “Most of the remaining oil has likely evaporated,” said Risto Pöykiö, Kemi’s environmental director. Sampling will continue until authorities determine it is no longer necessary.

The Safety Investigation Authority is conducting a separate probe into the incident, focusing on general safety improvements and accident prevention. The investigation, which does not address liability or compensation, is expected to take 9–12 months.

Samples have been collected every one to two weeks since the initial spill in February.