Poisonous gas leaks from MSC Chitra, salvage halts in Mumbai

Clean-up operations in the wake of the MSC Chitra oil spill have been suspended owing to a gas leak from the vessel. The gas, phosphine, is poisonous, which is why salvage team members cannot go near the ship to pump out the remaining oil in the vessel to prevent further spillage.

Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) officials said the salvage team from the Rotterdam-based firm Smit have not been able to pump out the fuel, though they started work last week.

MbPT chairman Rahul Asthana said: “Thirty-one of the containers aboard the vessel had hazardous chemicals. It is suspected that a few have fallen in water while the rest are still on the deck.

“Two days ago, one of the containers carrying aluminium phosphate got damaged and after coming in contact with water, generated phosphine. This gas, if inhaled by the salvers, can lead to severe health problems. That is why further operations have been suspended till the gas neutralises.”