Operations on to contain Chitra oil spill
Six coastguard vessels and a helicopter with anti-pollution dispersal spray systems were pressed into service today to contain an oil spill caused due to a collision between two cargo ships off the Mumbai coast.
Six coastguard vessels and a helicopter with anti-pollution dispersal spray systems were pressed into service on Sunday to contain an oil spill caused due to a collision between two cargo ships off the Mumbai coast.
"Anti pollution operations are underway. Six ships and one helicopter with anti pollution disposal spray systems are on the job to contain the oil spill," a coast guard official said.
"We are yet to locate the leakage as some portion of the outbound merchant vessel Chitra, which damaged in the collision, submerged after the mishap," he said.
Meanwhile, Directorate General of Shipping's Chief Nautical Advisor MM Savvi told PTI, "The Directorate General of Shipping has initiated investigation into the yesterday's incident and the coast guard and senior officials (Directorate General of Shipping) are now at the sight."
"Port operation is about to start and will reopen shortly," he said.
Two Panamanian cargo ships collided on Saturday off the Mumbai coast causing an oil spill from one of the vessels. However, no casualties were reported.
Thirty three crew members, including two Pakistanis, were rescued following the incident.
MSC Chitra, the outbound merchant vessel from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), collided with MV Khalijia-III, five nautical miles from the shores at 0950 hours when the latter was sailing towards Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), off Mumbai harbour, for berthing.
The Indian captain and 32 crew members of Chitra were evacuated and the ship was grounded in the vicinity of the Prong Reef Lighthouse.
The Chitra was carrying 1,200 containers and over 200 containers fell in the water as the vessel tilted further to 70 degrees raising fears that it may capsize.
"But there is less possibility that the ship can sink," Savvi said.