MSC CHITRA-COLLISION IN THE COAST OF MUMBAI
Mumbai:
More than eight months after the head-on collision
between two sea vessels off the Mumbai coast, which caused the damaging
oil spill in the Arabian Sea, the curious case of MSC Chitra was finally
put to rest on April 17 when the ship was sent sinking down to Davy
Jones' Locker. That, experts said, may not be the end of the story. At
the time of its submersion, the ship had over 500 cargo containers
carrying tones of hazardous chemicals, diesel, lubricating oil and other
fuel.
If and when the containers corrode, the fumes would fuse
with seawater, spelling catastrophe for marine ecology, and others who
depend on it. The extent of the probable disaster has not been assessed.
Meanwhile, a team of seasoned seafarers, which has just returned to the
city gave a blow-by-blow account of how Chitra was finally sunk, cargo
and all, about 350 nautical miles off Mumbai's coast last Sunday, by its
Panama owners.
Chitra was listing on one side after she
collided with MV Khalijia III on August 7 last year. Khalijia had ripped
into its port side (left), creating three major dents in its hull. The
engine room of Chitra gradually flooded and the rough seas were forcing
out oil from the ship's bilge. As threat of environmental disaster
loomed large, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard stepped in.
After a
long-drawn litigation to establish who was responsible for the
calamity, Chitra was given a clean chit and was free to sail. But the
owner had more problems to face. The vessel was damaged, and still had
over 500 containers of polluting chemicals. It was impossible to get it
afloat.
After that, said insiders, an effort was made to sell
the ship to breakers at Alang in Gujarat. But the company, or any other
for that matter, did not want to touch it. The vessel still held 500
containers with poisonous fumes, a potential danger for the workers who
would shred the vessel to pieces. The ship breakers explained that they
would have to buy very skilled labourers with oxygen masks and other
equipment to protect them against the chemicals. That would make the
deal exorbitant. Nobody would buy scrap at that price.
All the
while, Panama-flagged Chitra was anchored 30 nautical miles north west
off Mumbai. Until the Indian authorities obtained permission from its
host country to sink it, four tugs hired to keep her afloat were
severely denting the pockets of its owners. The owners were left with no
option but to sink the ship, along with its dangerous cargo, to the
bottom of the sea. A US company (name withheld) specialising in sinking
vessels was hired early this month.
A towing company with
powerful tugs began its operation to haul it out to the deep seas on
April 13, when Chitra began her last journey from Mumbai harbour, being
towed deep into the Arabian Sea. A seasoned seafarer said, "Chitra
barely managed to remain afloat in the high seas as she was being towed
away from the city's shores." The company decided to drown the ship
about 350 nautical miles off the city, in international waters outside
the bounds of Indian agencies.
A team of maritime experts
boarded Chitra and opened the engine room valves. A few other holes were
made in the ship's hull before water started gushing in. "Initially
Chitra began listing on one side. It took 36 hours before the vessel
disappeared from the horizon with a very huge splash," recalled one of
the officers.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Port Zone) Khalid
Qaiser, who was investigating the case, told MiD DAY that he would have
the matter looked into. Director General of Shipping Satish Agnihotri
had earlier told this reporter that the country where the ship is
registered, Panama, would take the decision, and that they have no say
in the matter.
It is still not clear whether Chitra's sunken
cargo poses environmental threat to the eco-sensitive ocean bed. The
wreckage could be hazardous for ships plying in the area. There are
about 200 species of marine life in and around the coast of Mumbai. Much
of the marine life is already at peril, and the spillage of hazardous
chemicals and oil will hasten the process of devastation, environmental
experts said.
IMO:
7814838
Call Sign:
H9VU
Flag:
Panama (PA)
AIS Type:
Cargo
Gross Tonnage:
33113
DeadWeight:
38485
Length x Breadth:
234m × 32m
Year Built:
1980
Status:
Decommissioned or Lost
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