V The vessel MSC Chitra, the outbound

merchant ship from the Jawaharlal

Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), collided with MV
Khalijia-III around 9.50 am on August
seven when the latter was sailing
towards Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), off
Mumbai harbour for berthing.

V The collision caused an oil spill from MSC

Chitra at a point about 10 nautical miles
off the Mumbai coast.
V The MSC Chitra had on board nearly
2450 containers, about 2500 tonnes of
furnace oil and some 300 tonnes of
diesel fuel,.

V Some 240 odd containers are reportedly

fallen/sunk/floating in the coastal water
of the Arabian sea. .
V Ú

  
  

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V The VTMS (Vessel Traffic Management
System) has high frequency radio /
electronic communication facilities (JNPT
operates on VHF-13 and Mumbai Port
VHF -12).
V Two VHF channels allowed for all ships
entering either Mumbai Port or JNPT, the
second to serve as a back up channel.
V The oil spill has already spread over an
area of 25 square kilometers and the
hazardous chemicals and pesticides
may affect about 200 species of marine
life.
V Mangroves off Navi Mumbai are in
danger of being destroyed and the
debris caused by the collision of ships
may pose navigational problems
V The oil spill is a potential threat to the
marine environment
V This exercise has been going on around
the entire area. We can't say all the
containers are taken...Many have been
damaged (due to the incident) or may
probably be submerged,´

V the rescue operations are using solar

equipment to detect containers that
have sunk.
V The Coast Guard said several of its
helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and six
ships continued their efforts to control
the situation.

V attempts to stabilize it by adding ballast

water into one of its tanks.
V cleaning shores,
V mangroves,
V taking samples of water
V and transportation,
V As many as 37 people on the two ships,
including members of crew, three
women and two children, had been
safely evacuated by the Coast Guard
on Saturday

V secured the compartments and also

dropped anchor, securing the vessel
from drifting.
V the floating containers are being cleared
with the help of tugs and floating cranes.

V Diving and rigging teams are trying to

retrieve the missing containers

V Once the vessel stabilizes and is certified

safe to board, the salvagers will board the
vessel and remove the fuel from the various
tanks into the barges to eliminate threat of
pollution.
V fishermen to not go fishing in the area for
the time being and also urged people to
avoid consumption of fish for some time.

V The State pollution control board has

served notice to the salvage company
as well as the two firms owning the two
ships involved in the tragic collision to
clear the oil spill within a week, an
unlikely possibility.
V The inquiry by DG shipping should
ascertain reasons for incoming like,Ú
  
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  and why no pilot was escorting
the vessel through the channel. The
collision took place before the pilot for
incoming vessel could board ship.
V vessels more than 20 years old are not
very seaworthy, and ports do not allow
such kind of vessel.
V Two VHF channels allowed for all ships for
entering or for outgoing.
V Environmentalists suggest that washing
away of the spill during high tides is
nature,s best alternative for oil spill on
mangroves.
V Cases should be registered against the
importers for violations of the provisions .
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VThank You«