Threat of oil slick "real"

MUMBAI, June 20: Rescue teams looking for survivors of the Arcadia Pride mishap drew a blank today. And there is more bad news: An oil spil...

MUMBAI, June 20: Rescue teams looking for survivors of the Arcadia Pride mishap drew a blank today. And there is more bad news: An oil spill from the ship’s holds is moving towards the city’s coastline.

The bulk carrier sank off the Mumbai coast yesterday. Rescuers saw isolated patches of oil parallel to the shores on Friday. Coast Guard Pollution Control Cell confirmed that the patches were located between six and eight miles off the coast and were being carried up north toward the Thane creek by the wind. Arcadia Pride was carrying 200 tonnes of fuel and diesel oil besides a 12,700-tonne sulphur cargo.

Though experts said there was no cause for concern as the slick was a usual phenomenon occurring with sunken ships, the Coast Guard has deployed two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) Vigraha and Vijaya both fitted with pollution control equipment.

Friday’s rescue and pollution control operations were severely hampered by bad weather. “In bad weather it is not possible to physically recover the oil. Two helicopters are keeping a vigil tracking the direction of the spill,” a senior Coast Guard official said.

A Coast Guard Dornier aircraft flew sorties over the affected area spraying oil dispersants to contain its spread. The Coast Guard last conducted a similar operation after the general cargo vessel MV Al Hadi sank off Malabar Hill last year. The Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) will commence an enquiry into the sinking of the Arcadia Pride on Monday. “We are presently collecting information and will try to finish the enquiry in a month’s time,” the MMD’s Principal Officer H Chakravarthy told Express Newsline.

He said that it would be premature to discuss the cause of the disaster. Messages had been sent to all police stations from Malabar Hill to Carter Road to watch out for floating objects. Incoming ships are being warned about the wreck on radio, he said.

Meanwhile, there was no let up in the rescue operations for the second day as Naval and Coast Guard vessels combed the coastal water for survivors. Strangely, no wreckage or flotsam from the sunken ship has been found.

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A defence spokesperson confirmed that no survivors were rescued in the last 24 hours. However, they added that the rescue operations may be intensified on Saturday if the weather cleared.