Removal of hazardous cargo begins on beached tanker in Goa

Indian officials have confirmed that operations have begun to offload hazardous chemicals from a product tanker that had run aground in Goa earlier this month.

The 144- by 23-metre Nu Shi Nalini had been anchored off Goa’s Mormugao port with over 3,000 tonnes of highly flammable naphtha when strong winds and rough waves brought about by Tropical Cyclone Kyarr caused the vessel to drift towards the town of Dona Paula and run aground on Thursday, October 24.

A local official said the cargo offloading would likely last three to four days due to the weather while the actual operation to salvage the ship would not take place until after a month.

The official added that the machinery required to extricate the beached tanker could not yet be transported to the area. However, a tug owned by the country’s Directorate General of Shipping has been on-site since Sunday, October 27, and will be ready to assist in the salvage operation once authorities give permission to do so.

The Indian Coast Guard has also placed an oil spill response vessel on standby in the area even though no leakages have been reported from the tanker.

Meanwhile, local police officials have filed a complaint against Nu Shi Nalini‘s owners for negligence and for endangering public safety under the Indian Penal Code.