An environmental catastrophe was narrowly avoided when about 25 gallons of diesel oil spilled into the sea at Pitts Bay yesterday.

The highly toxic pollutant poured into the sea at about 8.30 a.m. from a sinking 50-foot salvage barge.

But luckily the wind was blowing into the harbour mouth which acted as a natural boom, stopping the oil from being swept out to sea.

Salvage teams from the Department of Marine and Ports and the Marine Police were quickly on the scene and were able to soak up the oil using sorbent pads.

The clean-up operation lasted throughout the day but, although most of the spill was mopped up, the vessel, called The Burnt Slipper , which still contained about half its tank of fuel, sank to the sea bed.

A mini boom was placed around the barge to prevent any further spillage and a team of divers were due to carry out an inspection of the stricken vessel, which belongs to the Bermuda Salvage and Wreck Company, owned by Charles Crisson.

Environmental engineer Dr. Thomas Sleeter, who at the scene, said: "Luckily there has been very little environmental damage. We think about 25 gallons of diesel leaked out but the wind kept it in the harbour which isn't a particularly environmentally sensitive area.

"Also, although diesel is highly toxic, it doesn't stick to things and coat them.

"We were able to soak it up using these sorbent pads which soak up oil but not water. It's quite easy to pick up.

"The spillage was restricted to quite a small area and we were able to get a boom around the boat. That's a precaution because some more oil is likely to seep out when we salvage the boat.'' It is not yet known why the barge sank.

Mr. Crisson was off the Island yesterday but his father Christopher Crisson told The Royal Gazette : "I checked the boat last night and it was fine.

Somebody else then went and checked it at about 9.30 p.m. and it was still fine.

"We just don't know why it sank.''