A review meeting by the Directorate General of Shipping as a part of the follow up action on the oil response containment and abatement measures from the sunken ship MV Rak Carrier was held this evening ie on August 9th 2011. The situation report on oil pollution and steps being taken to control pollution from the ship were discussed and deliberated with the key Coastal State Authorities, owners and other concerned agencies.
The representatives of State Environment Department, Indian Coast Guard, Mercantile Marine Department, Mumbai, Mumbai Port, Maharashtra Maritime Board, Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board, including the BMC, Local Correspondent of P & I Club, owners lawyer Local agents and salvage companies showing expression of interest participated in this meeting. The following feedback from them including the plan of actions and safe guards being put in place around the casualty as well as along the cleanup process being initialed to the affected coastline is set out below:
1. Coast Guard conducted air sorties and reported that the oil from the sunken vessel is continuing to escape but at a much reduced rate. The rate of flow has reduced to 8 to 10 tonnes per day as compared to 35 to 40 tonnes per day earlier. The continuous trail of the oil leak from the vessel is observed up to 5 to 8 Nautical Miles as compared to 12 Nautical Miles earlier. They Observed discoloration on Alibag Beach which according to the Coast Guard is the usual phenomena during the monsoon months. In addition, deposits of tar balls were noticed in the mouth of an estuary closed to Alibag. 3 or 4 silvery patches where also noticed close to Dadar beach and Bandra Bandstand. Three Coast Guard vessels including oil pollution response vessel Samudra Prahari are present in the close proximity of the casualty to deal with leakage of oil from the ship. These vessels are also supported by Dorniers.
2. The representative of State Oil Pollution Board stated that no fresh oil deposits have been noticed on the Juhu / Versova beaches.
3. The local P & I correspondent is in consultation with the expert oil pollution response companies to stop the flow of the oil from the ship. One of the salvage companies is in advance stage of negotiations with the P and I club in Romania.
4. The Mumbai Port continues to promulgate verbal navigational warning over the VHF about the location of the sunken ship in order to warn the maritime traffic to avoid marine accidents.
5. The local P & I Correspondent has been reminded to mark the sunken ship with a suitable temporary arrangement till such time approved wreck marking buoy in consultation with Director General of Lightship and Lighthouses is put in place.
6. The Investigation into casualty and oil Pollution incident is progressing.
7. The welfare and security of all crew members is being taken care of by maritime administration as required by the prevailing International Laws.
