Environmentalists will be assessing the extent of the damage of a mystery oil spill which took place near Hamilton Harbour yesterday afternoon.

Marine Police Insp. Mark Botelho said the incident was reported at 2.50 p.m.

"It is not a large spill, but the boats will need to be cleaned off," he said. "The damage to the boats can be removed, but as the micro-organisms that live in the dock will be affected, it is an environmental problem."

The cost has not been estimated for removing sludge from thousands of boats moored in Pitts Bay.

Yesterday a Marine and Ports team were laying absorbency pads that will help to keep the oil contained in the Pitts Bay area and will also aid in sucking some of it up.

"If tomorrow is a good day then the sun will help some of the oil to dissipate," said Insp. Bothello.

P.c. Chris Taggett said most of the areas affected, including mooring poles, had previously been green but were now black up to the tide line.

"It almost looks like it could have been black paint," said Con. Taggett.

The oil could be seen slicked down the sides of the dock that backs onto the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel cycle parking lot, Smatt's Cycles and the Bermuda Boat and Canoe Club, when the tide went out.

A man on the scene who did not want to be named thought that the oil spill may have occurred when someone emptied the bilges of their boat.

"It's really a cold and callous thing to do," he said.