New Delhi, April 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Almost two years after it had drifted during Cyclone Nisarg and run aground off Maharashtra's Ratnagiri, damaged commercial oil tanker M.T. 'Basra Star' has finally been recommended to get clearance from the Environment Ministry for ship-breaking at its present location.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's Expert Appraisal Committee considered the proposal during its meeting in March's last week and recommended the clearance, documents available now show.
The 1986-built, 75-metre-long, 11.5-metre-wide M T Basra had arrived from the UAE to Jaigad in Ratnagiri for cargo discharge and was on its return journey on May 29, 2020. However, due to Cyclone Nisarg warning, it was permitted to stay at the inner anchorage of Ratnagiri on June 3, 2020. The fierce cyclone hit the western coast, leading to massive sea storms and sea surge drifted the vessel with her anchor to Bhati Mirya Head Bay, about 1.5 kms from Ratnagiri.
"Due to drifting, the hull as well as inner bottom of the vessel were badly damaged and hence, cannot be navigated or towed to a ship breaking yard. The vessel doesn't have sufficient buoyancy to afloat. The bottom way of the engine room, pump room, and steering compartment was damaged resulting in flooding of the compartments... thus needs to be broken on 'as is where is basis'," the company representative told the EAC.
The company's proposed project to the EAC was for recycling of Basra Star in the safest and environmentally sustainable manner, otherwise it is posing threat to the marine environment. The project attracted relevant provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification 2011.
The company has promised that it will be a short duration project of three to four months without any permanent establishment. The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) and Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai (Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways) have both allowed dismantling of the vehicle with validity till May 25.
The EAC took into account the proposal during its 293rd meeting on March 24 and 25 and recommended the proposal for grant of Terms of Reference (ToR) with certain specific conditions, in addition to all standard conditions applicable for such projects. The specific conditions include removal of engine oil/lubricants completely from the ship, no paint or debris deposition, no marine/surface soil contamination and details of the water source, waste generation, treatment system and disposal along with water balance.
Source: IANS
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