GSPCB officials take stock of tilted ship at WISL
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
The officials of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Thursday visited the Western India Shipyard (WISL) to take stock of the situation of the 'QUING' passenger liner, containing 350 tonnes of furnace fuel oil, that tilted towards the starboard side on Wednesday.
The ship posed a marine threat, as there were speculations that if the ship develops cracks, there might be oil spillage which can lead to a major disaster.
The GSPCB officials and Mormugao Deputy Collector Gaurish Shankwalkar, the head of disaster management of Mormugao taluka, along with Mormugao Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai rushed to the shipyard.
However on reaching the shipyard gate, the workers reportdely did not allow the visiting team to enter the shipyard to inspect the tilting ship. The GSPCB officials after explaining the cause of their visit were allowed to enter the yard with police protection.
Speaking to The Goan, GSPCB scientist Janice Sequeira said they visited the yard as they were informed that there is a fear of oil spillage from the ill-fated ship. “We have taken water sample for testing, as a layer of oil is seen on the water,” added Sequeira.
When asked whether they are aware of quantity of oil in the ship, Sequeira said they are not in a position of knowing the quantity of oil, as none of the company officials are present at the site.
WISL Workers Union leader Alex Pacheco told The Goan that if the ship sinks further, there is a fear of oil spillage.
“If the ship sinks further due to water pressure, the oil will start leaking and as there is lot of scrap material at the bed of the jetty, there is every possibility that some scrap might pierce the bottom of the ship which may further lead to extensive leakage of the oil,” said Pacheco.
“Every time the ship docks for repairs, the used engine oil is stored in the tanks. We do not know when the ship was docked last, as it was built in 1985 and for the last three years it is anchored at the yard for repairs,” added Pacheco.
