Two
days after the Oil spill occurred at Kamarajar port Ennore ten kilometers north
of Chennai, almost all visible patches of oil have been cleaned. Only thin
sheen of oil and emulsified oil is visible in some areas according to a port
release.
The
recovery process is in its final stage and an assessment regarding further
continuation of the recovery process would be undertaken tomorrow in
consultation with Indian Coast Guard and State Pollution Control Board.
The
spillage of fuel oil during the discharge of cargo from the vessel M.T. CORAL
STARS which took place in early hours of
November18 has been attended to by Kamaraj Port authorities and all
other concerned agencies including Indian Coast Guard since November 19th
morning.
After
arresting the drift of spilled fuel oil by fence booms, the recovery of the spilled
oil continued over night yesterday and during the day today. Two aerial sorting
were done by Indian Coast Guard to survey the spillage area. The Collector,
Tiruvallur also visited the affected Port on November 19th evening and took
stock of the situation.
Indian
Coast Guard has further deployed its Pollution Control vessel namely Samudra
Pahredar to assist the recovery of the spilled oil. BPCL has been asked to do
the collection, safe custody and subsequent disposal of the recovered material
in an environment friendly manner in consultation with State Pollution Control
Board.
Coast Guard has issued a notice under Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 to
the Ship regarding cleaning and precautionary pollution control measures to be
taken. DG (Shipping) has also issued notice to the ship under Merchant Shipping
Act, 1958 regarding claims and liabilities. Further DG (Shipping) has ordered
an inquiry into the incident which has already commenced.
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