Government orders Mumbai box debris cleared by Saturday

Time:2010-08-12 Browse:39 Author:RISINGSUN

THE Indian government has set a Saturday deadline for salvagers from Smit Internationale NV to remove containers spilled into the sea off Mumbai after the 2,314-TEU MSC Chitra collided with the 41,829-ton bulk carrier Khalijia 3.

Salvagers are removing four to six boxes a day of the 300 in the water, according to Shipping Minister official Rakesh Srivastava.


Speedy removal of the boxes is essential to reopen the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mumbai Port on India`s west coast, which handles 40 per cent of India`s exports. The port closure has left state refinery company, Bharat Petroleum, which processes 138,000 barrels-per-day, without 1.5 million barrels of crude oil on three ships that are waiting to be offloaded.


Nearly 32 ships are either stranded in the ports or waiting to be discharged. Also affected are grain and soybean meal exports.


Said Shipping Corp of India chairman S Hajara: "The closure will have a big effect on our business. There is no compensation for losses as the closure of the port is not something that anyone is insured against."


Many shipping lines have stopped bookings via Mumbai and few exporters are resorting to more costly air cargo.


Of the 1,219 containers aboard the MSC Chitra, 31 hold dangerous chemicals and pesticides but are "well-packed" and "not expected to cause environmental problems", according to Mr Srivastava. Beyond the 200 litres of hydraulic oil spilt into the sea, no leakage has occurred according to Coast Guard Inspector General SPS Basra.


The coast guard has used chemicals to disperse leaked oil. Meanwhile the vessels` captain, Mandeleno Ranjit Martin, has been granted "interim bail" by the local court against whom a FIR was lodged, said the Times of India.


Nhava Sheva`s Jawaharlal Nehru Port lifted 4.1 million containers in the financial year ending March 31, up 2.8 per cent year on year and equal to 60 per cent of India`s overall box throughput. The port`s overall tonnage amounted to 60.7 million in the last financial year, up six per cent year on year. Terminals at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port are operated by DP World, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, the Container Corp of India and AP Moeller-Maersk.