Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Indian Coast Guard (ICG) received information from Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Colombo, in late hours of June 16, 2021, about a mid-sea oil spill about 450 km South East of Chennai. On further investigation, it was revealed that a Portuguese flag Container ship MV Devon, on passage from Colombo to Haldia, West Bengal, developed an underwater crack in the fuel tank containing about 120 KL of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil
The crack resulted in spillage of about 10 KL of oil into the sea before preventive action was taken and remaining oil in tank was transferred to another tank by the ship’s crew. The vessel is carrying 10,795 tonnes of general cargo in 382 containers and manned by 17 crew. The ship is continuing its voyage to Haldia and likely to reach there on June 18, 2021.
The ICG is in continuous contact with MV Devon and the master has reported that the vessel is stable, according to a PIB release. ICG Pollution response team at Chennai has been alerted and kept on standby. In addition, ICG ships and aircraft deployed at sea are also put on alert in pollution response configuration.