The Kakinada-based Atlas Offshore Service Private Limited on Saturday said, the barge Atlas Carrier is in Paradip Port since the last four months and has all the valid licences and permissions to supply bunkers to the vessels.
Expressing surprise at the claim that the barge was never allowed inside Paradip Port Trust(PPT), an official spokesperson of the firm said, the barge has entered the port twice and jetty was allotted to receive fresh water and supply bunkers.
Refuting claims that there was any oil onboard the barge, the firms said the vessel only had sludge and bilge water with the permission from port and customs authorities.
The barge is waiting at fishing harbour as per PPT authorities’ instructions till a jetty was allotted to dispose the waste. The spokesman Akbar H Khan said, the barge is still in fishing harbour of Paradip and free for inspection by any agency.
The company also refuted the allegations by Ananth Reddy terming them completely untrue.
“It is not true that barge was taken away from him and doing business at Paradip. If it is real, why has he not taken control of the barge which is operated by us,” Khan said. Reddy was not available for comment.