CHENNAI: Even as oil was continuously seeping from it into the sea, the ill-fated MT Dawn Kancheepuram had to wait for two days in the outer harbour despite fervent pleas to the port authorities to permit it inside to discharge the oil, alleged owners of the vessel, charging that the accident transformed into the environmental disaster that it is now because of this delay.
After it collided with the British ship, BW Maple, the vessel immediately requested permission to berth it inside Kamarajar Port, Ennore. “But we were made to wait for two days. Had Kamarajar Port reacted immediately, we could have averted the disaster. The delay resulted in oil from the ship seep into the sea,” Captain Sowresh Gon, senior vice-president Corporate Affairs of Darya Shipping Solutions told Express.
However, a top official from Kamarajar Port denied the allegation. “We wanted them to transfer the cargo to another ship, but they expressed inability. We had also sought an undertaking from the vessel but that was delayed by nearly a day. The shipping ministry and the director general of shipping were informed, and after getting clearance from DG Shipping, the ship was inspected for its seaworthiness. This took another half a day,” the official said.
Sources at the port said Ennore Tank Terminal Private Limited, which has the lone berth in the port, was against allowing the vessel to berth inside. The firm finally obliged after pressure from the DG. MT Kancheepuram was finally allowed to berth, the official said.
Meanwhile, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation claimed that the proportion of oil contained out of the 20 metric tonnes that leaked into the sea so far is probably lower than 10 per cent. Rejecting the claim, Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General MA Warsi said they have collected 40 metric tonnes thick sludge. “This is only sludge and it does not have water or sand,” said Warsi.
While Marina and Elliots beaches in the city have been cleared of the spill, the Coast Guard has sighted seven more possible spill sites. “We are hoping to contain it by Thursday but it could also take two to three days,” he added.
Incidentally, no police case has been yet filed on the incident. C Sylendra Babu, ADGP (Coastal Security Group) told Express that either the pollution control board or the port should file the complaint, which, however, has not been done so far.
A P Sawhney, additional secretary, ministry of petroleum along with Barun Mitra, Joint Secretary (Ports), ministry of shipping and Amitabh Kumar, additional director general of shipping reviewed the situation on Wednesday.