Ill-fated Sigapore ship splits, oil spill stops

Panaji, June 3: The ill-fated Singapore ship 'Ocean Seriya' that grounded at Oyster Rock Bay off Karwar Coast, split into two even as authorities were trying to decant oil from its tankers to prevent further spillage along Karwar-Goa coast.

''Now that the weather conditions have improved, our first task is to decant the oil left in the ship's tankers. About 30 tonnes of oil out of 650 tonnes might have leaked into the sea since the vessel was pushed onto the rocks by powerful waves and winds on early Tuesday causing damage to the bottom of its rear side,'' Goa Coast Guard officer Commandant M D Prasad said.

The coast guard and port authorities laid booms, sandbags and coir mats along the 400 metre coast to prevent further spread of the oil. The slick had touched Polem bordering Goa yesterday.

After decanting the oil left in the vessel, operation salvage would be started. At present, the front portion of the vesel remains unstable on the seaside while the rest is on the rocks.

Inspector general of Coast Guard commanding the western region A Rajasekhar and Goa Coast Guard commandant and Deputy Inspector General R M Sharma undertook an ariel survey to take stock of the situation.

The Goa government is also on high alert following the accident.

There is, however, nothing to worry, the authorities added.

Meanwhile, the coast guard choppers continued their search for the second missing officer of the ship after the ship met with an accident in the turbulent sea.

While 20 of the crew members including the captain and his wife were airlifted by the Coast Guard.

UNI