The oil leak from MV Rak Carrier has reduced further and a case has been registered in the Yellow Gate police station against the crew members under environmental laws.
“Indian Coast Guard Ships Sankalp, Samudra Prahari, Amrit Kaur and other aircraft continue to monitor and contain the oil pollution from the sunken vessel. The Coast Guard helicopter undertook an aerial assessment of the extent of oil pollution at sea and along the coast and observed that the oil slick in the area had considerably receded. The outflow has reduced and appears to be about half-a-tonne per hour,” said Captain Manohar Nambiar, chief public relations officer, defence, Mumbai.
“The rate of the flow has reduced to eight to ten tonnes per day when compared to 35 to 40 tonnes per day earlier. The continuous trail of the oil leak from the vessel can be observed up to five to eight nautical miles as compared to 12 nautical miles earlier,” read a press statement issued by Directorate-General of Shipping.
“Tar balls were found on Tuesday at Utan, Gorai, Kihim, Alibaug, Dadar and Bandra’s Bandstand. The National Institute of Oceanography is preparing an environment assessment and impact report on the oil spill,” said Valsa Nair-Singh, secretary, environment department, adding, “The crew of MV Rak Carrier has been booked under the Environment (Protection) Act and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. Further, a claim would be made to the ship owners and insurance companies through the DG Shipping for the environmental damage caused.”
To clean up the shores of the tar balls, brown moss and oil patches, traditional methods of using gunny or jute bags would be used by the local agencies.
Meanwhile, the local protection and indemnity correspondent is in consultation with the expert oil pollution response companies to stop the flow of the oil from the ship. Advanced negotiations are on with a salvage company in Romania.