Chennai: A day after the second oil spill at the Ennore port in two years, dedicated Coast Guard Pollution Control Vessel ICGS Samudra Paheredar arrived in Chennai from Vishakapatnam on Monday evening. MT Coral Stars, a tanker, which was docked at the Kamarajar Port caused an oil spill in the early hours of Sunday. The spilt oil is less than two tonnes, a statement from the port said.
MT Coral Star is an oil tanker with a gross tonnage of 25,400. The vessel built in 2004 was carrying furnace oil. The oil allegedly spilt due to a fault in the hose that was being used to transfer it.
Help was sought from the Coast Guard Pollution Control Vessel to help estimate the spillage and also to begin the clean-up, an official of the defence wing said.
“The vessel began its work and a report will be submitted on Tuesday morning on the extent of the spill, how much work is done and how long it will take to clean it up,” an official said.
Coast Guard interceptor boat and helicopter were launched to assess the extent of the oil spill. Subsequently, two Coast Guard Fast Patrol Vessels with Pollution Response equipment embarked onboard were deployed from Chennai for combating the spill.
The effect of the spill, however, is already being felt by the fisherfolk who had opposed the laying of an illegal oil pipeline through the Ennore
Creek by Indian Oil Corporation Limited to transport oil from the Marine Liquid Terminal in October 2018. “When new projects begin, these private players stand in front of the collector and promise big things. But such incidents are happening repeatedly,” said K. Bharathi, president of the South Indian Fishermen’s Association, speaking to Deccan Chronicle.
As much as officials promise that the spill won’t spread, the effect will definitely be felt because oil cannot mix with water, Bharathi said.
“Because the spillage is close to the dock, it will not spread into the sea, but along the shore. Both sides of the port are inhabited by fisherfolk. Whichever way the spill spreads, it’ll affect us,” he said.
“The port is functioning with inexperienced and low number of employees to increase profits. That’s the sole reason this is happening, Bharathi said, adding “we suspect that the spill also may be because they want to curtain fishing activities in this area,” he said.
