Wither Life?

The following article, appeared in the Bangalore edition of the Deccan Hearld.
Sunday, July 19, 2009

It is sad to read these stories, considering that 'International Oil Pollution Prevention certification is mandatory for all ships and ship owners are expected to get quickly off the blocks in the event of such an occurence where a ship goes down in coastal waters, with oil on board. Fortunately this cargo carrier was not an oil tanker and has a limited amount of fuel on board.

What can be the outcome of this marine incident?

1. The Mangalore coast could be innundated with an oil slick for years to come.


2. Coastal flora & fauna could be destroyed.


3. The livelihood of fishermen is in danger.


4. Coastal Tourism is in jeapordy.

It is also interesting to see what steps are being taken to check the spill. Indian marine autorities are notoriously slack in dealing with such emergencies.

Unscrupolous ship owners, float sea going ships, which are not seaworthy and should not have left a port in the first place.

I can see only two points that bring some cheer in this rather sorry tale:

1. There were no casualities amongst the crew.


2. The Captain in true naval tradition was last off the ship.

However, as far as I can see, it is yet another nail in our fragile eco systems battered coffin.
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The Chinese cargo vessel MV Asian Forest, which was listing on Friday, sank off the Mangalore coast on Saturday, sparking fears of an oil spill.
The ship was carrying 366 tonnes of fuel oil and 45 tonnes of diesel in its fuel containers. Coast Guard Karnataka Commandant Padam Shekhar Jha told Deccan Herald that contact had been established with representatives of P & G Marine Company, Busan in South Korea, who own the vessel, agents Golf Alpha Charley Shipping and ABCO Trading Company, Kottara Chowki, Mangalore. The company has been asked to make necessary arrangements for salvage operations and to remove the oil and wreckage, he said. A salvage team of Singapore- based Smith and Company is expected to reach the ill-fated ship’s site on Sunday. Jha said there were no signs of oil spill as yet but all precautions would be taken to check spill.The ship carrying iron ore fines, which set sail from the New Mangalore Port for Zhavgjiagang in China at around 9:30 am on Friday encountered rough seas and later started listing. All the 18 crew members of the ship, who were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Sankalp, are safe in a hotel in the city.