GROUNDING OF LPG CARRIER MV KEW BRIDGE OFF RATNAGIRI - 14 SEP 2006

        A Norwegian Flag LPG carrier MV Kew Bridge ran aground due to rough sea and strong wind conditions prevailing on 14 Sep 06 at 1755 hours while coming alongside Finolex Jetty (Ratnagiri harbour). The incident has taken place while the pilot onboard and the vessel was being escorted by two tugs. However, attempt made by both the tugs to pull the grounded vessel failed and the vessel is presently resting on soft sand off Ratnagiri harbour. The vessel is reportedly carrying 558 MT of heavy fuel oil, 94.2 MT of Marine gas oil and 62 KL of Lub oil in addition to 6000 MT of Butane and 1500 MT of propane.

       On receipt of information Coast Guard has undertaken aerial surveillance Ex Goa on 17 Sep 06 and confirmed that the vessel is resting on the sand and there is no oil pollution in the area. Further, Coast Guard representative deputed on PM 17 Sep 06 for joint investigation/interrogation also confirmed no internal damage to the grounded vessel

       It has been informed that the owners have arranged Mis Smit salvers, Singapore to undertake the salvage operation. The owners of the grounded vessel has been issued notice in accordance with Section 356J of MS Act 1958 to take appropriate measures to prevent escape of oil from the grounded vessel and prevent damage to the environment.

         Dy. Nautical Adviser DG Shipping and representatives of concerned agencies carried out inspection and found cargo and fuel safe and no damage to hull of the grounded vessel. No oil spill sighted in the area.

          Salvers are planning to make use of the rising tide conditions from 05 Oct 06 till 11 Oct 06 to refloat the vessel with highest tide being on 09 Oct 06.

         The dredging operations were being carried out by dredger on the grounded vessel with all the possibilities to create escape route. Continuous pulling of MV Kew Bridge is in progress by the salvage tug to refloat the vessel as on 03 Oct 2006.

POLLUTION RESPONSE OPS MOUNTED BY INDIAN COAST GUARD

OFF GALLE HARBOUR - 12 SEP 2006

       Two Indian Coast Guard Ships (OPV Class with Integral Helicopter) were deployed off Galle Harbour in response to a request from the Government of Sri Lanka to mount pollution response operation resultant due to sinking of a merchant vessel in the western limits of Traffic Separation Scheme off Dondra.

       The merchant ship MV Amanath Shah, 158 meters in length and registered in Bangladesh had sunk during the early hours of 08 September 2006. The vessel, a general cargo carrier, carrying timber logs and pulses had also on­board approximately 180 tonnes of fuel which was spilling and accordingly the assistance from Government of India was sought.

      The Government of India tasked the Indian Coast Guard "a nodal agency in India for prevention and control of pollution at sea" to proceed the area, for pollution response. Indian Coast Guard Ships arrived in the area at 1100 hrs on 12 September 2006. The oil spill emanating from the sunken vessel was moving in the easterly direction to a width of 100 meters and extending up to the length of 4 nautical miles. Moreover fresh spill from the sunken vessel was also found oozing out.

       However it was reassuring to note that resources / coastal areas were not under threat. The total forces committed by Indian Coast Guard for mounting the Pollution Response Operation were 02 OPVs with 02 integral helicopters and 01 Dornier aircraft operating ex Indian Coast Guard Air Station Chennai.

      Total neutralization of the slick was achieved by judicious application of Oil Spill Dispersant (OSD) and the Indian Coast Guard has been able to contain the spill. The ships on completion of operation further called at Colombo Harbour for operational turnaround.

      Two ICG OPVs jointly carried out surface and aerial surveillance around the datum again on 18 Sep 06 on completion of operational turn around. It was confirmed that the area is devoid of any oil slick/traces and total neutralization of slick was achieved. The operation was terminated at 1940 hrs on 18 Sep 2006 and the ships were directed to return to their respective base ports.

OIL POLLUTION INCIDENT MV OCEAN SERAYA

       MV Ocean Seraya, a Panamanian flag bulk carrier drifted and ran over submerged rocks off Karwar on 30 May 2006.  The ship arrived from Karachi in ballast reportedly carrying 650 tonnes of fuel oil and 40 tonnes of diesel.  Among the 21 crew, 20 have been evacuated ashore to Karwar safely, one is reportedly missing. The ship has parted into two halves. Coast Guard helicopter whilst on surveillance reported oil slick extending 5 nautical miles from the grounded vessel and approaching coastline near Karwar port. 3.  

         The Coast Guard has launched a dedicated pollution response operation to combat the oil spill.  The ICG dornier sprayed around 500 ltrs Oil Spill Dispersant (OSD) over the spill area .  ICG ships with specialised pollution response equipment also reached to area for coordinating pollution response efforts . Around 1000 mtrs of boom is laid on the northern side of the vessel, 500 mtrs of boom at low water line off Tagore beach and 200 mtrs of shoreline was barricaded by sand bags by Coast Guard with the help of local administration. Coconut coir was also laid on one km stretch of Devbaugh beach to act as absorbent.

  The Coast Guard is taking all possible measures to protect the marine environment in and around the affected area by pooling available resources with government and private oil handling agencies.

    Around 300 to 400 men from State police, NCC, NSS and other government organisations are engaged in cleanup of the oil patches which has reached ashore.  The state administration has directed the owners/agents of the grounded vessel to de-fuel the vessel earliest.      Three in number floatable tanks of capacity 100 tonnes (01) and 30 tonnes (02) have been handed over to salvers by Coast Guard for early commencement of de-fueling from the grounded vessel.

     The oil slick appears to be extending in north south direction away from coast with streak 4 miles long and approx 100 mts wide.  The prevailing weather is breaking up slick and reducing extent of spread with oil disintegrating.  Few patches of oil slick have been reported on shoreline of Karwar. 

     The Coast Guard has also approached The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) and Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) for deputing team of experts to check the feasibility of conducting microbial remediation of the oily sludge washed ashore.