Kamarajar port claims to have cleaned up the oil spill in two days

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.