Recommendations submitted to oil spill probe panel

Chennai: The Kamarajar Port Ltd has submitted a set of recommendations including the use of mariners in Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), and measures to enhance operational efficiency to Captain Subhash Kumar committee, probing the collision of two cargo ships off the Ennore coast here on January 28 this year.

The collision of the cargo ships involving M. T. Dawn, Kancheepuram and M T BW Maple, had caused extensive oil spill. The mishap occurred at 4 am when M T BW Maple with flag “Isle of Man” was leaving the port after emptying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and M T Dawn, Kancheepuram, loaded with petroleum oil lubricant (POL) was on its way to berth.

Due to wave action, the oil spill spread to the beaches of Chennai and Mamallapuram, making patterns on the sand and nearly a thousand volunteers were involved in removing the sludge.

About 15-20 recommendations presented are aimed at augmenting the resources so that port operations are carried out efficiently, Kamarajar Port Ltd chairman and managing director M. A. Bhaskarachar said on Monday. “We have given about 15-20 recommendations to the Captain Subhash Kumar committee….One of the highlights is the use of mariners in VTMS instead of an operator (as has been the practice earlier),” he said.

On the impact of the oil spill, he said the port has estimated the damage at '60 lakh. “As of now, the DG Shipping is investigating the matter. What we have claimed is Rs 60 lakh,” he told reporters. “M.T. Dawn, Kancheepuram” was occupying the berth at Port and would pay the charges till the completion of investigation, Mr. Bhaskarachar said in reply to a question.