300 chemical canisters detected in Arabian Sea off Mumbai
By IANSWednesday, August 18, 2010
MUMBAI - Rescue agencies have found 300 canisters containing aluminium phosphide and diachlorophost from the Alibaug region of Raigad district near Mumbai, a maritime authority said here Wednesday.
According to the Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS), there have been reports of more canisters sighted in the vicinity of INS Kunjali, a naval base near the Mumbai port.
The DGS also said that so far, as many as 293 huge containers have fallen off the Panamanian cargo carrier, MSC Chitra, since its collision with the St. Kitts-vessel MV Khalijia-III Aug 7 near the Mumbai harbour.
A team of salvors who went aboard MSC Chitra found traces of phosphine gas indicating that some containers carrying aluminium phosphide could have fallen in the ship’s hold area.
However, measurements of air samples in the vicinity of the ship did not indicate any phosphine level but the situation is being continuously monitored, the DGS said.
So far, the rescue teams have retrieved 14 containers with the help of floating cranes and another 18 have been transported to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).
Around 77 containers have been reported beached at various locations and 10 have been found sunk till date.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy escorted 12 vessels out of Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), five out of JNPT and piloted in 14 vessels to the MPT and eight to the JNPT.
With this, the total number of large vessels piloted in to both the ports has come to 93 and escorted out has gone up to 80, the DGS said.
Earlier in the afternoon, Maharashtra Minister for Ports Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil reviewed the ongoing work of retrieving the containers in the Mumbai harbour and bringing shipping activities to normal.
He expressed the state government’s concern especially since the passenger ferry services start from Mumbai island to various points on the mainland from Sep 1.
Besides, the overall ferry services are of great significance during the forthcoming 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival starting from Sep 11.
