Clean up efforts are poised to begin on a kerosene spill in Ferry Reach which left land on both sides of Ferry Road soaked in fuel.

As much as 50,000 gallons of kerosene jet fuel leaked into the land from a Shell pipeline which supplies jet fuel to the airport, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Investigations into the spill began after area residents raised the alarm due to a foul stench emanating from Richardson's Bay the small bay ringed by property belonging to Esso, the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, the Prison Farm and Co-ed Facility.

Shell chairman John Vickerman last week admitted that there had been a spill from one of the company's pipelines and said clean up efforts were on hold until Shell received a report from environmental consultants on how best to proceed.

And he said, at this stage, it is uncertain whether the rotten egg odour prevalent in the area is directly linked to the spill.

Mr. Vickerman said Shell was unsure of how much fuel had leaked before the hole was plugged after four days.

However, yesterday, the Ministry of the Environment broke their silence on the spill and revealed the amount of fuel lost may be as much as 50,000 gallons.

Environment officer Dr. Tom Sleeter said he had heard figures in relation to the spill which range from 2,500 to 50,000 gallons, although other sources claim the reality is closer to the larger figure.

Dr. Sleeter said, although the environmental assessment is not yet in, both Shell and Esso on whose land much of the fuel spill is located are set to begin clean up efforts.

The kerosene leak occurred in September, Mr. Vickerman said last week.

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