Experts Work To Stop Oil Leak From British WWII Tanker

Two teams of experts are attempting to stop an oil leak from a British tanker sunk off the US coast during World War Two.

The Coimbra was one of 148 vessels sunk by the U-boats near the American coast.

The wreckage of the British tanker, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat in January 1942, has been leaking oil into the sea.

Back in 2015 an oil sheen was spotted 30 miles off the coast of Long Island, experts were able to match the location with that of the wreck.

Now a team of specialists have been working to stop the tanker causing further damage to the ocean.

Since April the Coast Guard, Department of Environmental Conservation and private company Resolve Marine, have been trying to stop the leak.

According to the US Coast Guard, more than 235 litres of oil has been removed from the tanker since 11 May.

The team will be working on the tanker until it no longer poses a threat to the ocean and all the oil is removed, which should only take another few weeks.

The tanker will then be left alone, as it is the final resting place for six gunners and 30 crew who were on board when the boat sunk.