Panaji, May 24 (IANS) With a fresh wave of tar balls hitting Benaulim beach, the authorities say they are inching closer to the rogue vessels which have been releasing spent oil off Goa, a top tourism official said Tuesday.

Tourism Director Swapnil Naik said the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had already given a list of names of ships operating along the state's coast and other details, which were passed on to Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) for tallying with oil slick samples collected in April this year.

"The last time there was an oil slick, we had contacted the ICG to give us a list of ships operating along the coast. The same was shared with NEERI along with samples of the tar balls to ascertain if they are from ships operating in the coastal waters," Naik told IANS.

"NEERI is to submit the report shortly. We are hoping that the report will be able to shed light on some of these issues," Naik said.

According to marine scientists, the messy tar balls are generated after sea-going ships discharge burnt-oil into the sea off the coast, resulting in large quantities of semi-solid oil lumps, floating on to the state's beaches, which are Goa's biggest tourism draw.

Naik said cleaning agencies and government agencies were working overtime to clear the Benaulim beach and adjoining areas of tar balls, which have been floating towards the shore for a couple of days now.

Benaulim beach is 35 km from here.

"Cleaning personnel and government agencies have started the clean up operation of tar balls which have appeared along the affected beaches. Most areas have been cleared. The beaches will be free of tar balls soon," Naik said.

Naik, however, said he was unable to explain why the Benaulim beach and surrounding areas were witnessing a repeated onslaught of tar balls.