Ennore oil spill: Clean up or face action, Indian Coast Guard warns shipping agent
Even as a massive cleaning operation is under way, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has directed M/S Atlantic Shipping Private Ltd to contain and recover the two tonnes of fuel furnace oil (FFO) spilled by its chartered vessel MT Coral Stars at the Ennore Port.
By : migrator
Update: 2018-11-19 22:36 GMT
Chennai
Issuing a notice to the shipping agent under section 356(J) of the Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, the communique directed the agent to take up various actions including containment and recovery of oil, restoration of the environment to its original state, and removal of oil from the damaged tanks by transfer.
After a review, it was revealed that the port had taken few measures to contain the spill soon after it was found that a hose had ruptured while discharging FFO and that the agents had not taken any steps to contain the spill.
On a cautionary note, the ICG said noncompliance would lead to severe action under section 356(K) of part XI(A) of the Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
Soon after the incident, two ICG Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) with pollution response equipment were deployed at the Ennore Port. It was stationed to assess and guide the port authorities on the use of appropriate spill response strategy.
After observations, it was concluded that the spillage was confined within the breakwater area of the port which is fenced with a fence boom.
As per procedures, the team ‘ring-fenced’ the oil slick and deployed a skimmer to suck out the oil sludge layer off the water surface.
Absorbent pads were also utilised to recover the oil, an ICG statement stated. It could not be ascertained immediately as to when the spill would be completely contained.
Oil spills have been a cause of concern for environmentalists across the world as it affects marine life on a massive scale. Most countries do not have containment strategies and equipment, thereby aggravating the effect of even minor spills.
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