Though because of the monsoon the actual ground reality may not be known for some time, there appears to be no danger of pollution to Goa’s coast as a result of the breakup of the MV Ocean Seraya.
PANAJI: Though because of the monsoon the actual ground reality may not be known for some time, there appears to be no danger of pollution to Goa’s coast as a result of the breakup of the MV Ocean Seraya. The Panama registered vessel coming from Singapore had run aground in a severe storm off the Karwar Coast in north Karnataka on May 30.
“I have checked the beaches of Palolem, Canacona, Ragbag, Galigibaga, Talpona and found no signs of oil pollution,” the deputy director, tourism department, Pamela Pereira told DNA.
The tar bar sighting which have taken place are a monsoon phenomenon. “The tar balls that have been reportedly spotted in Goa are an old phenomenon and happens every year. Our scientists have also confirmed these tar balls are not fresh ones. Any old oil spill after it was treated, disintegrated and evaporated, its residual turns into tar balls. These could have surfaced now and as we know there are many shipyards and barges operating in Goa that cause oil pollution now and then,” Cdr M P Prasad, the Coast Guard’s PRO said.
“The second barge (to deal with the spill) is being filled up, the booms around the ship have been laid out to our satisfaction in the direction of the drift, but night operations are not taking place for obvious reasons,” Prasad added. The monsoon he explained was making the operation difficult. “The tug towing the barges has to move slowly. Oil spill dispersants are being spread but this takes time and you can obviously never achieve 100 per cent success.”
He said bio-remedial treatment-spraying of bacteria that further disintegrates petroleum products, was also being done and scientists from TERI, New Delhi and the Naval Metalurgical Research Laboratory had arrived on the scene and were assisting the operation.
In London the ships owners said they signed a LOF (Lloyds Open Form) shortly after the initial grounding with Smit Salvage. “Smit are currently on site working with the local authorities on salvage and pollution control. A small quantity of bunker fuel escaped from the bulk carrier following the initial grounding. Work is under way to pump fuel oil from bunker tank 1 and 2 into the tanks on the salvage tug.”
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