A Portuguese-flagged container ship spilled oil off India, after suffering an underwater crack in its fuel tank, a government statement said.
The Indian Coast Guard received information from Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo in late hours of Wednesday 16 June, regarding a mid-sea oil spill about 450 kms South East of Chennai.
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On further investigation, it was revealed that the German container ship MV Devon developed an underwater crack in the fuel tank containing about 120 KL of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil, while on passage from Colombo to Haldia, West Bengal.
The crack resulted in spillage of about 10 KL of oil into the sea before preventive action was taken and the remaining oil in tank was transferred to another tank by the ship’s crew,
…a press statement by India’s Ministry of Defence reads.
At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying 10,795 tonnes of cargo in 382 containers and manned by 17 crew.
The ICG is in continuous contact with MV Devon and the master has reported that the vessel is stable. ICG Pollution response team at Chennai has been alerted and kept on standby. In addition, ICG ships & aircraft deployed at sea are also put on alert in pollution response configuration,
…the statement added.
The ship has continued its voyage to Haldia.
