Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Mangalore, Jul 28: The launch of the salvage operations of the ill-fated sunken vessel M V DenDen near Tannirubhavi coast will be done only after October according to a consensus decision taken by the apex body here, on Friday July 27. This decision has come as a dampner on all efforts to ensure an early salvage of the said sunken vessel.
In the apex body meeting of the representatives from district administration, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Mechantile Marine Department (MMD), Coast Guard and Maritime engineers held at the New Mangalore Port Trust building, while giving their consent to the salvage operations at the same time requested the Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Club, representing the Etrean registered vessel to also furnish an undertaking.
In the earlier part of the meeting the representatives of P&I Club informed that sucking out 1,500 litres of marine diesel and 140 metric tonnes of furnace oil from the tanks with the aid of external pumps in the rough seas might result in unsafe salvage operations.
Sources close to the Etrean representatives said that although the sea has not yet calmed down, their endeavor is to ensure that salvage operations are carried out safely and effectively.
The sea water has not yet been polluted and the fuel tank of the sunken vessel is still intact. This has further influenced the decision of the apex body to carry out salvage operations only after October sources quoting the representatives stated.
As this matter is of such prime importance, the members decided that the salvaging crew should start operations only after the sea calms down and when the windy weather clears off. However, in case of eventuality the anti-oil pollution machinery must be kept ready. The KSPCB members also kept their options open on using oil dispersers, boom lines and adsorbent pads to remove oil slicks if any.
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