Indian Coast Guard help to combat oil spill in Lankan waters

Chennai, Sept 14 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard assisted the Sri Lankan Government to neutralise an oil slick caused due to the sinking of a Bangladeshi merchant vessel off Galle harbour in the island nation.

According to a Coast Guard release here, the vessel 'Amaanat Shah' sank on September eight, resulting in oil pollution.

Following a request from the Sri Lankan Government for immediate assistance for diving and to neutralise the slick, the Centre asked the Coast Guard, the nodal coordinating authority, to respond.

The Coast Guard immediately launched Dornier aircraft on September 11 to ascertain the extent of oil spillage and sprayed oil spill dispersant to neutralise the oil slick.

Simultaneously, the Coast Guard ship 'Vikram' deployed on sea was called to Chennai harbour on September ten for embarkation of 2,000 litre of oil spill dispersants, a diving team and pollution response equipment, the release added.

The ship sailed on September 11 with a helicopter for Galle.

Dornier belonging to the Coast Guard from Ramanathapuram carried out five sorties and sprayed 1,000 litre of oil spill dispersant in the spillage site off Galle, the release said.

Coast Guard ship 'Veera' with pollution response equipment also sailed from Kochi on September 11 for Galle harbour for combined sea-air operation to combat marine pollution.

Both Coast Guard ships and integral helicopters were presently at the site and continuing their task. The strenuous efforts of Indian Coast Guard units had resulted in controlling the oil slick and preventing the polluted oil from reaching the coast, safeguarding marine life, the release added.

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