Ship collision closes India’s two busiest ports
India’s busiest container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port and neighbouring Mumbai Port were closed after a collision between two vessels on Saturday. Sharon Gill reports … The outbound MSC Chitra collided with the inbound mv Khalijia-III off the Mumbai coast, causing the MSC Chitra to run aground, where it remained listing heavily, leaking oil and dropping containers overboard. The extent of the oil leaked has not been established, but the Maharashtra state environment minister said it was about two tonnes of oil per hour. The Chitra’s cargo also included several thousand tonnes of oil products. The ship lost at least 250 containers, and salvage operations are now underway. According to Reuters, a port official said that the port will re-open on Thursday. The Khalijia has berthed, and the Chitra has now been stabilised, although it remains tilted at around 65 degrees. The Maharashtra government has said it will register a case, under the Environmental Protection Act, against the owners and staff of both vessels. Quelle: eyefortransport |