Navy launches emergency salvage operation on disabled MT Granba to
prevent environmental implications off Trincomalee harbour
Sri Lanka Navy has launched an emergency salvage
operation to rescue the disabled merchant tanker, MT Granba off
Trincomalee Harbour.
MT Granba (IMO No: 8030269; Call Sign: TCSV9 and port
of registry: Istanbul, Turkey) had begun sailing from Tuticorin Harbour
on the 02nd April 2009 with Sulphuric Acid in an overloaded condition
and was heading for its next port of call, Kakinadan, India. On passage,
she has developed defects in its cargo tanks and approached Sri Lanka
Coast off Trincomalee without any intimation when detected by SLN
Coastal Radar. On investigation by SLN vessels, it was revealed that she
was communicating with its agents to repair the vessel being in position
(08 24.3ø N and 81 29.3ø E) from the 6th of April morning.
Subsequently, Sri Lanka Navy received a distress
message from the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center in Italy
indicating MT Granba needed assistance due to acid leakage from cargo
tanks to ballast tanks and the ship is in danger.
Sri Lanka Navy vessels having verified the legitimacy
of the vessel approached the disabled Tanker and provided assistance to
steer the vessel away. However, its crew abandoned their vessel and SLN
rescued them. Naval personnel boarded the Tanker and found that its
cargo tanks were damaged. Its Sulphuric Acid was leaking into ballast
tanks. It has been found that this can lead to environmental
implications in Sri Lankan waters and coastline. As such, the Navy has
taken measures to tow the Tanker to deep sea with the help of the SLPA
tug as it has already begun to list. The salvage operation is still
continuing. Agents of the vessel are making arrangement to provide a
salvage tug for possible towing.
The Navy has informed the authorities in Turkey of the
incident through the Government channels.
Courtesy: SL Navy |
