A pipeline barricade has been erected close to the Costa Concordia, to protect Italy's shoreline against any fuel leak from the vessel.

An oil removal ship near the cruise ship Costa Concordia, leaning on its side, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, after running aground near the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, last Friday night.

On Monday, Italian Environment Minister Corrado Clini said he would declare a state of emergency over the accident to garner state funds to help prevent an environmental disaster.

Clini reported that some kind of liquid had started to leak from the ship, but it was unclear if it was fuel. He said protective barriers had been put into place.