Google Maps appears to show ship 'sinking' at Mersey landmark
A Google satellite view of a landmark just off the River Mersey seems to show something odd. When you look at the Stanlow Oil Refinery, found near the River Mersey in Ellesmere Port, on Google Maps' satellite view you could be forgiven for thinking that something is sinking.
To the north of the refinery, two ships are shown to be berthed short branches off the Manchester Ship Canal, near to the abandoned police station on Stanlow Island. The back half of one of them looks like it is sinking into the water on the satellite view.
However, there is nothing to worry about. A spokesperson for EET Fuels, the Essar subsidiary which operates Stanlow, confirmed to the ECHO that there are no issues at the facilities and berths on Stanlow Island.
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It appears that there may be an issue with the satellite image. The ECHO has approached Google for a comment explaining the situation.
Owned by Essar Energy, the Stanlow oil refinery is found on the south bank of the Manchester Ship Canal in Ellesmere Port. The near 1,900 acre facility dates back to 1924 and is the second biggest in the country, producing around 1/6 of the UK's petrol needs.
Stanlow Island is effectively part of the massive Essar oil refinery complex, itself secretive and fenced off to deter casual sightseers. It was once home to a community of monks for hundreds of years, and later became home to officers from the Manchester Ship Canal Police force and their families.
Traces of the island's history are still around today, including the abandoned police station and ruins of a medieval abbey which have been reclaimed by nature.