No fuel shortage as operations resume at port

The country’s busiest harbour, the Mumbai port, resumed operations on Thursday, after being forced to close down for five days because of the oil spill off the city coast.

The country’s busiest harbour, the Mumbai port, resumed operations on Thursday, after being forced to close down for five days because of the oil spill off the city coast.

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The Indian Navy escorted 19 ships in and out of the channel.

Mumbaiites now need not worry about the city running out of fuel, which had been a possibility if the ports had not reopened by Sunday.

Two cargo ships collided on Saturday, causing leakage from MSC Chitra’s fuel tank as well as spillage of 350 containers into the sea, dangerous for the movement of other vessels in the navigation channel.

“The operations were done on a war-footing to ensure that the channel was functioning partially at least,” said Union Shipping Minister G.K. Wasan, who visited the site on Thursday. “A six-ship Navy convoy took 10 ships out of the channel and brought nine ships in.” More than 30 ships have been stranded at the two ports.

“We will not face any shortage. We have sufficient crude oil being pumped out at Bombay High. Also, with ports reopening, oil and fertiliser ships will be let in on priority,” said Murli Deora, union minister of petroleum.

The Navy’s Western Naval Command conducted the operation. The escort force, consisting of ships and helicopters, surveyed the route guided the naval ships through the navigation channel steering them clear of floating and submerged containers.

While two helicopters provide aerial coverage, a minesweeper ship and two survey boats with side-scan sonar followed by a fast-attack craft are ensuring that the merchant ships safely find their way through the channel, said Captain Manohar Nambiar, spokesperson for the Navy.

The Navy is also carrying out a survey of the harbour using its survey ship. The data gathered will aid in clearing navigational dangers and restoring normal operations.

Investigations underway suggest the collision took place because of communication errors. Wasan said: “Prima-facie, the accident seems to have happened because of errors in communication and navigation. An inquiry is being conducted by the Directorate General Shipping and will be ready in a month.” Satish Agnihotri, joint director general of shipping, said the probe would take some time.

Meanwhile, SMIT Salvage, a Netherlands-based firm, is continuing with operations to clear the 350 containers from the channel. A floating crane and two tugs have been employed to tow and pick up containers drifting in the channel. The firm is also pumping out the remaining fuel from MSC Chitra to avoid the possibility of a further spill. Shipping officials said clearing MSC Chitra could take a few months.

Union Petroleum Secretary S. Sundereshan said around 800 tonnes of oil had spilled into the sea. “It is not as alarming as it has been made out to be. We had a contingency plan to take care of the spill,” he said.