Mumbai port closed, vessel with 2600 tonnes of oil may sink

M.today

Mumbai, August 8:  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.

 

Maritime traffic in the vicinity has been regulated, as MSC Chitra which was grounded yesterday, is capsizing and 200 containers have already fallen into the sea as the vessel is tilting at more than 70 degrees, and it is most likely that it will capsize. MSC Chitra has 2662 tons of fuel, 283 tons of diesel and 88 tons lube oil.

The Coastguards are trying to retrieve the cargo, but oil spillage is now at 15 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Shipping has ordered investigation under the provisions of Merchant Shipping act.

 

Of the 37 crewmembers, 33 have been reportedly evacuated by the Coast Guard. But it is reported the remaining crewmembers and some salvage personnel are still on board to assess the situation.

After the collision, some containers from Chitra fell into the sea, raising fears of other ships crashing into them.

"Traffic at the Mumbai harbour is suspended as a precautionary measure as the 10 to 15 containers of vessel Chitra fell into the sea after the collision," a senior Indian Coastguard official said.

 

"The ships coming towards Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) might hit the containers in the water and may cause problem for the inbound ships, because of which we suspended the traffic", he added.

MSC Chitra, the outbound cargo vessel from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), collided with MV Khalijia-III five nautical miles from the shores at 9:50 am on Saturday when the latter was sailing towards the MPT, off Mumbai harbour, to take a berth.

No casualties were reported following the collision and 33 crew members were rescued. 

PTI