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Ship owner to plug oil leak in Goa

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

Nearly a week after oil spillage from a grounded ship off Sinquerim beach in north Goa, its owner has promised action on Tuesday. The spill has threatened to affect the tourism season beginning next month.

The 240 metre-long ore carrier, bought by Salgaoncar Shipping to be rebuilt as a transhipper, had drifted following strong winds on June 6, after being anchored at a spot for one and a half years.

Despite local hoteliers, including the Fort Aguada beach resort, informing the authorities about the ecological danger it poses, none dared take on Anil Salgaoncar, its owner, even though the laws are strict in the regard.

Salgaoncar has agreed to act to minimise damage it has caused due to the oil spillage, which was noticed by a Coast Guard helicopter last Tuesday. The Coast Guard sprayed the beach with a chemical dispersant.

Following visits by Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha and Tourism Minister Victoria Fernandes on Thursday, a joint meeting of the authorities concerned and Salgaoncar, was convened the next day.

"The law provides that steps should be taken by the ship owner and Salgaoncar has agreed to take technical help from the Coast Guard," said Ashok Kumar, who is presently acting as chief secretary.

Besides cleaning up the beachfront, full of oil patches, scientifically, the Salgaoncars will begin work on plugging the leakage from Tuesday. "The engine room is flooded," said Kumar.

The transfer of oil from the tanks will begin from September 18, Kumar added. The Coast Guard has estimated the tanks contain not less than 45 KL of oil.

The meeting did not discuss salvaging of the ship, grounded on a sand bar, and reportedly not in a condition to be towed away. As the Salgaoncars are influential in political circles, bureaucrats prefer to maintain silence.

Six years after the oil-loaded M V Sea Transporter was grounded off Sinquerim beach, the River Princess owned by Salgaoncar Shipping drifted to the same area. The Coast Guard had emptied all oil tanks in 1996, avoiding a ecological disaster along Goa's famous beachline, from Sinquerim to Baga and including Calangute.

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