Multiple agencies at work to contain possible oil spill from sunk dredger

Mangaluru: New Mangalore Port has rolled out a full-scale multi-agency response to contain and control possible oil spill from dredger Tridevi Prem that sank some 2.5-nautical miles from the port on Tuesday. Agencies roped in in this effort include Indian Coast Guard, MRPL and Kochi Port Trust. In addition, the port authorities have also asked help from the Pollution Control Board, district administration and state and coastal security police, in this direction.
The dredger has 45 kilolitres of high speed low sulphur fuel on board, which is historically not harmful for marine life, noted Venkata Ramana Akkaraju, chairman, New Mangalore Port Trust. “We have placed boom barriers around the spot where the dredger sank. Skimmers and oil absorbents are on standby, along with resources from MRPL,” Akkaraju told the media on Tuesday.
Asserting that he is being “too cautious” in this scenario, given that fuel is on board the vessel, and that even in the eventuality of a leak, it will evaporate easily, Akkaraju said presently there are no signs of oil spillage. “We have also requested Kochi, Mormugoa and Mumbai ports for additional oil absorbents, booms and skimmers, and they too will be pressed into service, if the need for it arises,” he said, adding the Coast Guard too has anti-pollution resources on standby.
“Efforts by IOCL bunkering barge on Monday, to remove fuel on board the dredger, failed due to rough sea conditions, he said. A Coast Guard vessel is in the vicinity of the spot where the dredger sank, which will act on the first signs of an oil spill. Two layers of booms, including a secondary layer, placed at the spot of the wreckage, will be useful in controlling any spill, and secondary mitigating measures will be initiated thereafter,” he said.
The port will take up the issue of initialising or implementing standard operating procedures to deal with the fallout of such situations with the state government, the chairman said. Thanking the proactive role of the district administration in liaising with the port in handling the situation, Akkaraju said the port has kept the ministry of shipping and other regulatory bodies nformed of its efforts.