13 July 2013
Muscat: Some 1,600 metric tonnes of fuel oil and 2,400 containers onboard the MOL Comfort sunk to the ocean floor when part of the ship sank on Thursday, according to Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
"About 1,600 metric tonnes of fuel oil and other oil were estimated to be in the tanks of the fore part. There is an oil film at the site, but no large volume of oil leakage has, at this moment, been observed," MOL said in a statement.
It added that some containers were floating near the site at 19'56''N 65'25''E.
According to the latest update from the ship's owners, a salvage team has been kept in the area to monitor the oil leakage and floating containers.
"Most of the floating containers sank and could no longer be spotted. We reported the fact to Indian authorities, completed the monitoring, and the salvage team left the scene. We have been proceeding with a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident," the update added.
Earlier, officials had fought a fire on the fore section since July 6, before the wreck sank to a depth of about 3,000 metres, dashing hopes of towing it to a GCC port to investigate the cause of the accident.
A MOL spokesperson told the media that the cause of the ship's failure has not yet been identified, but "we are doing our best to determine the cause."
MOL Comfort split in two some 430 nautical miles southeast of Salalah on June 17, in what was believed to be a major structural failure. The aft section of the ship sank on June 27 to an approximate depth of 4,000 metres, along with some 1,700 containers.
Chief engineer injured
Meanwhile, according to sources, the Indian Coast Guard has left the scene. The chief engineer from the tug SCI Urja, which had been towing the MOL Comfort, had to be transferred to the Indian Coast Guard vessel Samudra Prahari after he badly injured his index finger yesterday. The Indian Coast Guard vessel, along with the Urja's Chief Engineer, are both returning to India. Also, the Indian coast guard has alerted ships to steer clear of the burnt debris.
"Burnt containers and other debris are floating around the vicinity and all vessels have been advised to avoid any sea mishap," a coast guard official said.
Muscat: Some 1,600 metric tonnes of fuel oil and 2,400 containers onboard the MOL Comfort sunk to the ocean floor when part of the ship sank on Thursday, according to Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
"About 1,600 metric tonnes of fuel oil and other oil were estimated to be in the tanks of the fore part. There is an oil film at the site, but no large volume of oil leakage has, at this moment, been observed," MOL said in a statement.
It added that some containers were floating near the site at 19'56''N 65'25''E.
According to the latest update from the ship's owners, a salvage team has been kept in the area to monitor the oil leakage and floating containers.
"Most of the floating containers sank and could no longer be spotted. We reported the fact to Indian authorities, completed the monitoring, and the salvage team left the scene. We have been proceeding with a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident," the update added.
Earlier, officials had fought a fire on the fore section since July 6, before the wreck sank to a depth of about 3,000 metres, dashing hopes of towing it to a GCC port to investigate the cause of the accident.
A MOL spokesperson told the media that the cause of the ship's failure has not yet been identified, but "we are doing our best to determine the cause."
MOL Comfort split in two some 430 nautical miles southeast of Salalah on June 17, in what was believed to be a major structural failure. The aft section of the ship sank on June 27 to an approximate depth of 4,000 metres, along with some 1,700 containers.
Chief engineer injured
Meanwhile, according to sources, the Indian Coast Guard has left the scene. The chief engineer from the tug SCI Urja, which had been towing the MOL Comfort, had to be transferred to the Indian Coast Guard vessel Samudra Prahari after he badly injured his index finger yesterday. The Indian Coast Guard vessel, along with the Urja's Chief Engineer, are both returning to India. Also, the Indian coast guard has alerted ships to steer clear of the burnt debris.
"Burnt containers and other debris are floating around the vicinity and all vessels have been advised to avoid any sea mishap," a coast guard official said.
© Times of Oman 2013
