Chennai, Sep 11 The oil in the very large crude carrier (VLCC) 'New Diamond' that was on fire for six days since September 3, cannot be emptied in situ as all its machinery are not operational, said Indian Coast Guard.
"The transfer of cargo in situ is not possible as no machinery is operational on-board. The salvage team post inspection of the casualty ship, are taking required preventive steps to ensure the integrity, cargo safety as well as to plan the next course of action," Coast Guard said.
The immediate plan of action discussed between the Coast Guard, vessel captain and the salvage team are preventive actions to avoid reignition and correct its trim.
No significant list is observed on the vessel while it continues to be trimmed by aft (rear side of the ship dipping down into the water) by about one metre, the Coast Guard had said earlier.
A Coast Guard official told that the ship salvors will decide on the future course of action like bringing the oil tanker on an even keel, and where to tow it.
Be that as it may, the Coast Guard officials are now slightly relieved as they have averted a major marine disaster about 3,00,000 ton crude carried by ship on fire for six days.
The fire was finally doused on September 8.
The oil tanker caught fire on September 3 after an explosion in its engine room, 37 nautical miles off the Sri Lankan coast. Later it was towed further away.
The 20-year-old VLCC, sailing under the Panama flag, departed from Kuwait's Mina Al Ahmadi on August 23 and was headed to India's Paradip port, which it was expected to reach on September 5.
According to the Coast Guard, the vessel reported a major explosion in its engine room while it was on its way to the port in Odisha.
The first information about the vessel fire was received at the Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai.
A Coast Guard official had earlier told that the ship's fuel was on fire.
The ship apparently had about 1,700 tonnes of fuel when it caught fire.
( With inputs from IANS )
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