Chennai: Cargo ships collision pollutes ecosystem near Ennore, Coast Guard swings into action

On early Saturday morning MT Dawn tanker Kancheepuram an inward bound ship collided with MT BW Maple a Liquified Pertroleum Gas Carrier about 12 fathom into the sea.

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Chennai: Cargo ships collision pollutes ecosystem near Ennore, Coast Guard swings into action
Oil spill

In Short

  • Cargo ship collision pollutes ecosystem near Ennore of Chennai.
  • No loss of life or injuries have been reported from the spot.
  • A large number of fish and turtles near Ernarvur beach.

The collision of an oil tanker and an LPG carrier near Ennore port 20km away from Chennai has lead to death of a large number of fish and turtles near Ernarvur beach.

On early Saturday morning MT Dawn tanker Kancheepuram an inward bound ship collided with MT BW Maple a Liquified Pertroleum Gas Carrier about 12 fathom into the sea.

Initially officials from the Kammaraj port said that there was no damage to life nor any oil spill and that the ships were stable and afloat.

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But after residential fishermen felt the stench of oil they informed the authorities. It was found that there was heavy furnace oil spill of close to a ton when fire broke out on MT Dawn Kancheepuram.

Coast Guard immediately mobilised the Pollution Control Team after commuicating with the district collector and authorities from Pollution Board, Kamarajar Port and Fisheries department.

CONTRADICTING STATEMENTS

Contradicting to the statement provided by Kamarajar Port authorities, Coast Guard confirmed of an oil spillage in a patch of 50m x 30m along the beach stretch.

Coast Guard also initiated the mopping operation along with Oil MOP Skimmer and is expected to continue until Tuesday.

Officials consider this accident to be caused by human error and are expected to affirm it after a probe but call it a narrow escape as no major accident occured causing human loss or polluting the sea.

However, residents of Chinnakuppam stated that close 35 turtles and countless fish were washed dead ashore covered with oil film causing panic among the fishermen hamlet.

The dead turtles belonged to the endangered Olive Ridley species which visit the Marina coast to lay its eggs at this time of the year.

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Unidentified ship hits fishing boat, 7 fishermen injured