Local Goa News

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Coast Guard, MPT take steps to contain potential oil spill around cruise liner

VASCO: Indian Coast Guard and Mormugao Port Trust on Sunday started ‘booming operation’ around the cruise liner ‘Qing’ at Western India Shipyard Ltd (WISL) to prevent potential oil spill from spreading in the sea.

This comes after oil-like substance appeared on the surface of the water around the under repair vessel when it slightly tilted on one side due to water ingression.
Although, oil leakage from the vessel was ruled out, steps have been initiated to ensure that such a thing does not happen in the future.
Deputy Inspector General of Indian Coast Guard Manoj Baadkar and MPT chairman I Jeyakumar were personally monitoring the work involving nearly 70 to 80 personnel including technical experts.
Speaking on the occasion, MPT chairman Jeyakumar disclosed that “the booming operation was taken up to contain the sludge oil which appeared on the surface of the water.”
“Although there is no threat of oil spillage from the cruise liner which has around 350 tonne of it, the Indian Coast Guard and the MPT have taken up the joint booming operation to protect sensitive locations,” Jeyakumar said.
A team of experts along with a boom were to arrive at Mormugao Harbour late on Sunday night to join in the operation.
He said the oil draining task is likely to commence on July 4.
A boom is a floating, physical barrier to oil, made of plastic, metal, or other material, which slows the spread of oil and keeps it contained.
Baadkar informed that following MPT’s request, the Indian Coast Guard held a joint inspection of the cruise liner on Sunday.
“The MPT authorities informed the Indian Coast Guard about some oil slick, but after inspecting the cruise liner and upon verifying facts, it came to understand that there was no oil spill as such and it was only oil sludge on the water surface,” Baadkar said.
He said in order to prevent any threat to marine life and environment, the booming operation was taken up jointly by Indian Coast Guard and MPT.
“It was a minor slick and does not require any quick response, however, to avoid any danger, the booming operation was carried out with the help of both Indian Coast Guard and MPT on Sunday,” Baadkar said.  

NT Network Goa News

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