Team visits Paradip to monitor MV Black Rose situation
Sunday, 27 Sep 2009
It is reported that a high level expert team from the shipping ministry went to Paradip port on Saturday to study ascertain the cause of sinking vessel Black Rose and to discuss with PPT officials to retrieve oil from said vessel to avoid marine pollution.
Sources said that sunken vessel has 23, 847 tonnes of iron ore cargo, 924 tonne furnace oil, 50 tone diesel and 40 tonne grease which have posed threat both human being and marine spices due to oil spill.
The Paradip Port Trust authority had sought intervention of the shipping ministry as oil spill continues unabated it could create disaster to both shipping operation and most importantly marine species, particularly Olive Ridley turtles.
Realizing the situation, the team members include director general of shipping Capt P Mohan from Mumbai and Capt L K Panda, principal officer, Marine and Mercantile Department based are coming to Paradip in Saturday to study the situation and would take decision to retrieve oil from sunken vessel.
Earlier, Mr Dillip Kumar Behera senior scientist of Orissa State Pollution Control Board visited the spot and has expressed that oil spill from sunken vessel has been confirmed but the oil spill is low so marine pollution has yet witnessed.
He also warned that large scale oil spill from this sunken vessel can not be ruled out so OSPCB has directed the Paradip Port Trust authority and Indian Coast Guard to take precautionary measures to check environmental and marine pollution .OSPCB also requested the state government and union government to take immediate steps to retrieve oil from sunken vessel.
