the goan I network
VASCO
An unmanned tanker with about 3,000 metric tonnes of naphtha and stationed at the inner anchorage of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) began drifting towards Panaji on account of severe weather, putting authorities on high alert amid fears of a possible naphtha leakage which could pollute the sea and rivers.
According to reports, one of the two anchors on the unmanned tanker ‘MT Nu Shi Nalini’ is reported to have snapped due to rough sea and the ship began drifting towards Panaji, by dragging the other anchor from the seabed.
This sparked off fears that the tanker carrying the hazardous and inflammable cargo and with no crew on board could easily run aground at Panaji, Miramar, Dona Paula or the Candolim-Calangute beach stretch, causing a naphtha spillage and possibly bursting into flames, leading to an environment disaster and polluting the sea and rivers.
On receiving the news, the MPT sent two tugs towards the tanker but due to bad weather and the rough sea, the tugs could not get anywhere close to the tanker which was moving around uncontrolled.
Sources at MPT said the Navy and Coast Guard were alerted and since the Coast Guard does not have tugs, Coast Guard ships were on standby to keep watch and monitor the tanker, to avert
any possibility of a disaster due to the unmanned vessel.
Sources at MPT did not rule out the possibility of naphtha cargo leakage and other agencies like Goa State Pollution Control Board, Captain of Ports and the Goa State Disaster Management Committee were also alerted on the situation.
When contacted, sources at MPT signal station confirmed that a high alert was sounded and the movement of the tanker was being continuously monitored.
“We are presently also having a meeting with high level officials of MPT to look into any and every aspect of the tanker and as such, we cannot divulge much details at this point in time. All we can say is that as of now, the vessel is stable and is not drifting any further,” said the MPT source.
“The ship has not drifted but only changed its position because of strong winds and undercurrents. Though agencies are on standby, there are chances that the ship could drift further if bad weather and rough sea conditions continue,” said the source.
Sources said the MPT was in talks with the Navy on ways to contain the movement of the tanker. Distressed tanker is MPT’s responsibility: Sawant
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said, the unmanned tanker reportedly carrying naphta cargo and drifting in distress towards the coast is fully the responsibility of the Mormugao Port Trust. “The State if need be will file proceedings against MPT under the law,” Sawant said, adding however, that the Captain of Ports, James Braganza and other top officials were continuously monitoring the situation. >> See pg 2Fishing boat capsizes off Betul;
4 rescued, 1 missing
MARGAO: Tragedy struck a group of fishermen at the mouth of River Sal at Betul when a fishing vessel capsized and disintegrated into pieces near the sand bar while returning from fishing. While four of the crew members, from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, were rescued by the local fishermen as well as by the life guards and brought to the Mobor beach, the missing Tandel of the fishing vessel, Vassu, was feared drowned. >>
