Mumbai: Oil leaking from sunken ship MV Rak

Agencies

Mumbai, 07 August 2011: The sinking of the ship MV Rak off the coast of Mumbai has led to oil spill. A statement issued by the Coast Guard said that 1.5 - 2 tons of oil has been leaking every hour from the ship since August 6. An aerial recce on Sunday indicated the spread of oil up to 7 nautical miles from the sunken ship.

 

Coast Guard ship Samudra Pahari that was sent on patrol immediately responded and used oil spill dispersant to neutralize the spilled oil and Operation ’Paryavaran Suraksha- 2/2011’ has been launched by the Coast Guard. The state authorities have been advised to direct fishermen not to fish in the area.

 

 

MV Rak sank off the coast of Mumbai on Thursday. Environmentalists had said that of the 340 tons of oil and diesel on the ship, 1/3rd would be evaporated, 1/3rd would be soluble, but 1/3rd would contaminate the sea and the coast.