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By Vibhav Porav

Moradabad, Aug 14 (ANI): Exporters in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district are
incurring heavy losses following the suspension of movement of ships to and
from the ports of Mumbai and Nhava Sheva due to the oil spill from the
collision of two vessels off the Mumbai coast.

Using other ports on the western coast, such as the ports in Gujarat, is not
considered viable, as Mumbai is the cheapest port.

“Main problem is of cost-effectiveness because another substitute we have is
Gujarat port. If we take out our shipment from Gujarat port, almost 20 to 25
percent costs are incurred on our products,” said Satpal, the president of the
Exporters’ Union.

Over 24,000 containers are stranded due to the oil spill.

“Ships loaded with containers are waiting at the Bombay port, Nhava Sheva,
Daunagiri and other ports. Till this route is not cleared, these 12 ships
cannot go out. As per my information, approximately 24,000 containers are in it
and around 20 such vessels are standing outside which are waiting to come in.
Until these 12 vessels do not move out of the port, those 20 vessels cannot
come in,” said Gurvinder, a shipping agent.

Two Panamanian ships, MSC Chitra and MV Khalija-III, collided five nautical
miles off Mumbai on August 7.

The collision of the two ships, which resulted in one nearly tilting into
the sea, triggered off an oil slick that has spread to a distance of two
nautical miles from the capsized ship.

The vessel was carrying 2,662 tonnes of heavy oil in its tanks, and 245
tonnes of diesel oil.

However, the port authorities have given the assurance that normal
operations would be resumed by Sunday (August 15). (ANI)