Oil spill from sunk Liberian ship, ICG monitoring situation
Chennai, May 31 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is closely monitoring
the situation arising out of oil spill and plastic pellets in the sea along Tamil
Nadu coasts after a Liberian ship sank off Kochi coast.
A defence release here on Saturday evening said the Liberian-flagged Container
Ship MSC Elsa 3 had sank off Kochi which was carrying 640 containers and #POL.
"ICG had coordinated #Rescue of entire crew but numerous containers, debris,
and plastic pellets (nurdles) were spilled at sea", it said.
"Team #ICG East have been keeping close watch on the situation and coordinating
response to these nurdles/other debris that have washed ashore along Tamil Nadu
coasts at Colachel & Kanyakumari. A 40Ft Container has also washed ashore at
Kodimunai Beach", it said.
The ICG team were deputed to these sites for assisting the District Administration
Teams towards the ongoing cleanup operations at Colachel and Kanyakumari to
protect the Marine Environment, it said.
Following the sinking of the ship, a total of 22 coastal villages across the Killiyoor and
Kalkulam taluks in Kanniyakumari district have been affected by the debris that washed
ashore, including a container.
The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 with
calcium carbide and also had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of
furnace oil.
While the initial impact of the incident was felt along the coast of Kerala, plastic pellets,
wooden logs, and cashew nuts have begun washing ashore in the villages of Kanniyakumari
over the past three days.
The district administration has opened a 24x7 control room to enable the public to report if
any debris were found along the coast.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also held a review meeting at the State Secretariat to discuss the
steps for the removal of the debris that were washed ashore.
Officials of the Revenue, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Fisheries Departments
and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board took part in the meeting which discussed on the
safe removal of plastic and other materials that have washed ashore and to prevent any
harmful effect on the public and to assess the potential impact on marine organisms.
Though no hazardous materials have washed ashore on the Tamil Nadu coast till date, the
Chief Minister directed the authorities to coordinate with various departments and volunteers
for the safe removal of the debris, besides conducting studies on both the short term and
long term environmental impact on marine life.
UNI GV 2015
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