Indian Coast Guard and Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) have issued notices to Chennai-based Atlantic Shipping Pvt Ltd, the charterer of the ship MT Coral Stars that caused oil pollution along side MLT berth at Kamarajar port in Ennore on Sunday early morning.

The oil spill was caused by a rupture of hose while discharging fuel oil from Coral Stars (Marshall Islands flag). This was attended to immediately by Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL) and other agencies, including Indian Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard in a notice issued on Sunday to the ship charterer said that initial assessment revealed that KPL had taken a few measures to contain the oil spill. However, the ship and her agents have not yet taken suitable measures to remove the spill of nearly one tonne of fuel furnace oil.

DG (Shipping) issued a notice to the charterer under Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 regarding claims and liabilities. An enquiry has already commenced on the incident, said a press release from KPL.

Clean-up mission

After preventing the drift of spilled fuel oil by fence booms, the recovery of spilled oil continued overnight and during the day today. Two aerial sorting were done by Coast Guard to survey the spillage area. Tiruvallur Collector visited the port last evening to take stock of the situation.

Almost all visible patches of oil have been cleaned. Only thin sheen of oil and emulsified oil is visible in some areas. The recovery process is in its final stage and an assessment regarding further continuation of the recovery process will be undertaken tomorrow in consultation with Indian Coast Guard and State Pollution Control Board.

Indian Coast Guard has deployed its pollution control vessel Samudra Pahredar to assist the recovery of the spilled oil.

BPCL has been asked to do the collection, safe custody and subsequent disposal of the recovered material in an environment friendly manner in consultation with State Pollution Control Board, the release said.

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