August 7: A major pollution neutralisation operation conducted by the Coast Guard after the sinking of the M V Sea Empress off the city coast on Saturday has helped avert a potential oil pollution hazard to the coastline.

The Sea Empress which came to the outer anchorage at Mumbai carrying 4200 tonnes of sulphur reported flooding in its engine room early on Friday morning. On receiving a distress call from the Sea Empress in the early hours of August 1, the Coast Guard ship Vigraha was immediately put to sea and the helicopter squadron alerted for a possible evacuation of crew. The coast guard ship Vigraha was in the vicinity of the ship by 6 am and provided necessary assistance. The crew were safely evacuated by naval helicopters by 9 am.

CGS Vigraha and Coast Guard helicopters monitored the abandoned ship which was taking in water due to heavy swells and poor weather conditions in the area.

The ship finally sank at around noon on Saturday. The oil spillage in the area was immediately tackled by coast guard ships and aircraft in the area and successfully neutralised. CGS Sangram also joined the operation on Monday to augment pollution neutralisation efforts thus averting a potential pollution threat in the area off Kanderi island off Mumbai harbour. A total of 11 helicopter and four Dornier aircraft sorties were carried out in the four-day operation.

With the onset of the monsoon, Coast Guard ships on the west coast were put on maximum alert to meet any contingency including search and rescue missions, pollution response and providing assistance to vessels in distress, a coast guard statement informed.

Meanwhile the Mercantile Marine Department(MMD) has commenced an enquiry into Saturday's sinking of the Sea Princess.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.