Coast Guard gets oil-pollution control equipment for Andaman

Port Blair, June 1 (UNI) In a bid to save the flora and fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar waters against oil pollution, the Coast Guard Pollution Response Cell at Port Blair has added the Seaevac Heli Skimmer System (SHSS), imported from the US, to its Pollution Response Equipment.

''The SHSS is self-propelled by two OBMs and has high speed and good manoeuverability. It can carry six personnel for operation, very portable, compact, lightweight (only 1.7 tons) and can be transported to various islands in a 20-feet container by ship or truck,'' Commandant V Anbarasan, Officer-in-charge of the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Committee of Port Blair told newspersons today.

''It skims the oil from the polluted sea waters by seperating the oil from the water and pumping the collected oil for storage. It can collect all types of heavy or light oil as well as debris. It is very versatile and easy to operate with five tons per hour rate of recovery,'' he added.

A demonstration of the SHSS for its pollution response capabilities was conducted at the Port Blair harbour by the Coast Guard Regional Pollution Response Team recently, which was witnessed by the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence during their visit to the defence establishments at Port Blair.

UNI