A review meeting by the Directorate General of shipping as a part of the follow up action on the pollution response and abatement measures for oil pollution from the sunken ship MV Rak Carrier was carried out on August 12th 2011 at 1600 hours. The situation report on corrective, preventive and clean up steps initiated by various resource agencies was examined. A brief on the outcome of this meeting is setout below
1. The Coast Guard stated that the helicopter surveillance was carried out today and the spill has further reduced. The tendril of the oil spill was observed up to 5 Nautical miles with the thickness upto 1 cable and further reducing to ½ a cable beyond 5 Nautical Miles upto 9 Nautical Miles.
2. Samudra Prahari continues to use oil spill dispersant to nutrealise the effected areas. In addition, the Coast Guard also conducted the air sorties.
3. According to the Coast Guard, the estimated quantity of oil spill is about 7 to 8 tonnes per day.
4. The Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board reported minor traces of oil at Juhu Beach.
5. ONGC Diving Support Vessel is attending at the site with divers. The orientation of the vessel has been completed. The layout of the tank arrangements and sources of pollution such as sounding, filling pipes and air vent arrangements are being assessed from the ships crew so that the exact location can easily be detected by the divers. The diving operation has ceased due to adverse weather conditions and will resume when favorable weather and tidal conditions prevail.
6. The P & I Club is being pursued to confirm the de-bunkering plan for the remaining entrapped bunker oil on board the vessel and the status of engaging the ITOPF services for the efficient clean up operation on shore.
7. The Mumbai Port, in order to warn the mariners against this navigational danger, is continuing to disseminate periodically the local navigational warnings in respect of this shipping casualty.
8. The crew welfare and the logistics are being looked after.
The Director General of Shipping is closely monitoring the situation.
