Denmark reports Maersk Oil to police for discharging chemicals into North Sea

Reuters
Empty Maersk shipping containers are seen stacked at Peel Ports container terminal in Liverpool northern England, December 9, 2016. REUTERS/Phil Noble

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Danish environmental protection agency (DEPA) said on Thursday it had reported Maersk Oil, the oil unit of A.P. Moller-Maersk , to the police for discharging chemicals into the North Sea in connection with oil production. "Maersk Oil has in several cases, in violation of the regulations of the marine environment law, released so-called 'red' chemicals in connection with oil extraction in the North Sea," said the agency in a statement. Four colors are being used to classify chemicals used for oil recovery in Denmark and red are the second-most environmentally harmful class after black. Maersk Oil said in an emailed statement it had been notified by DEPA, whose decision follows a report it submitted to the agency on 7 August 2017. "Maersk Oil will cooperate fully with DEPA and the police," it said. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen)