Thaindian News

Paradip (Orissa), Sep 26 (IANS) A central team, which was here Saturday to inspect the Mongolian ship that sunk off the Paradip coast, recommended stringent measures to avert such accidents.
The five-member team said no ship older than 25 years would be allowed into the port.

“The Black Rose was one of the oldest ships. The port has received a ship, Sun Lucky, which is 35 years old. The committee has taken it seriously and bans entry of any ship which is 25 year old and more. We have also recommended that pre- and post-loading inspection be made more stringent,” National Shipping Board chairman P.V.K. Mohan told reporters here.

“The documentation procedure would be further tightened,” he added.

The committee also recommended stringent action against erring ship owners.

Earlier in the day the team went to the spot where the Mongolian ship has sunk and inspected whether oil was spilling out of it. Pollution control officials accompanying the team took samples of water.

“We have taken water samples and soil samples. We are trying to find whether they are contaminated or not,” a team member said.

The shipping ministry had sent the team after Paradip Port authorities sought its intervention following reports of oil spill from the ship that could pose a danger to marine life.

MV Black Rose, a Mongolian registered vessel, sank Sep 9 with 924 tonnes of furnace oil on board.

Port authorities have said 900 tonnes of the oil - in semi-solid state - is still inside the ship, but there have been small spills. Pollution control authorities have reported patches of oil on the coast three to four km away.

The ship was also carrying about 25,000 tonnes of iron ore fines. While 26 crew members were rescued, a Ukrainian engineer’s body was found 10 days later.