Page 11 - 42 SAYURUSARA
P. 11
Sayurusara 2020 December 9
"The self-evident principle Spread the world...
...not the oil
of international law that a State
cannot invoke its municipal law as
the reason for the non-fulfillment of
its international obligations.”
Hersch Lauterpact (founders of destination
modern international law) and secured at
Kalba anchorage, UAE by
Introduction 08th November 2020 where she was
granted with port of refugee status. Investigations
An Oil Tanker chartered by Indian Oil and preparing all prerequisites onboard for
Corporation (IOC) to transfer 270,000 Metric the scheduled Ship to Ship Transfer (STS) of
Tons of crude oil from Kuwait to Paradip (Eastern crude oil is still going on under the authority of the
coast) of India met with a fire hazard 38 nmiles Salvage Company namely ‘Smit’.
off (0880) Sangamakanda point on 03rd September
2020. The case alarmed all concerned for a possible Though we feel relieved from the burden of
record-breaking second largest oil spill disaster in MT New Diamond, it was an eye opener for every
the world; ‘Atlantic Empress’ which spilt 287,000 maritime stakeholder concerned in Sri Lanka
tonnes in 1979 being the largest ever. It is hot on the with many lessons to learn. 63% of the world’s oil
heels of the accident to MV Wakashio; a Japanese- production moves in the maritime route passing
owned ship, ran aground on a coral reef, broke Sri Lanka and 2/3 of global oil shipments and 1/3
apart started leaking oil creating an environmental of bulk cargo is also shipped across the Indian
catastrophe near Mauritius in last August. Ocean. This shows that Sri Lanka is vulnerably
The story goes for months involving rescue, positioned to face oil spill catastrophes. Hence,
firefighting, salvage, pollution prevention and legal we need a collective effort to face the potential
actions. Critical decisions had to be made during threat and lessons learned should guide this small
the process amidst pressure from every corner maritime nation located within a strategically
with concerns of international and domestic law, important setting; the way forward for becoming
security, environmental pollution, economic loss/ a regional maritime hub. This article examines the
series of related events took place since the day
gain and diplomatic ties. The fire of accident, referring not only the data available
stricken Tanker MT New Diamond within the navy, published and online articles, but
also by interviewing stakeholder agencies and
already left Sri Lankan Exclusive subject experts with the aim of highlighting not
Economic Zone (EEZ) by only achievements but also the grey areas too.
10th October, reached
to the final Episode in Brief...
Around 0805hrs on 03rd September 2020,
a distress relay (through Sat phone) received to
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC),
Colombo, (located at the Navy Headquarters),
from MT Helen M, a Panama Flag, Products Tanker
(IMO NO. 9308223), indicating an explosion
onboard MT New Diamond with a last known
"The self-evident principle Spread the world...
...not the oil
of international law that a State
cannot invoke its municipal law as
the reason for the non-fulfillment of
its international obligations.”
Hersch Lauterpact (founders of destination
modern international law) and secured at
Kalba anchorage, UAE by
Introduction 08th November 2020 where she was
granted with port of refugee status. Investigations
An Oil Tanker chartered by Indian Oil and preparing all prerequisites onboard for
Corporation (IOC) to transfer 270,000 Metric the scheduled Ship to Ship Transfer (STS) of
Tons of crude oil from Kuwait to Paradip (Eastern crude oil is still going on under the authority of the
coast) of India met with a fire hazard 38 nmiles Salvage Company namely ‘Smit’.
off (0880) Sangamakanda point on 03rd September
2020. The case alarmed all concerned for a possible Though we feel relieved from the burden of
record-breaking second largest oil spill disaster in MT New Diamond, it was an eye opener for every
the world; ‘Atlantic Empress’ which spilt 287,000 maritime stakeholder concerned in Sri Lanka
tonnes in 1979 being the largest ever. It is hot on the with many lessons to learn. 63% of the world’s oil
heels of the accident to MV Wakashio; a Japanese- production moves in the maritime route passing
owned ship, ran aground on a coral reef, broke Sri Lanka and 2/3 of global oil shipments and 1/3
apart started leaking oil creating an environmental of bulk cargo is also shipped across the Indian
catastrophe near Mauritius in last August. Ocean. This shows that Sri Lanka is vulnerably
The story goes for months involving rescue, positioned to face oil spill catastrophes. Hence,
firefighting, salvage, pollution prevention and legal we need a collective effort to face the potential
actions. Critical decisions had to be made during threat and lessons learned should guide this small
the process amidst pressure from every corner maritime nation located within a strategically
with concerns of international and domestic law, important setting; the way forward for becoming
security, environmental pollution, economic loss/ a regional maritime hub. This article examines the
series of related events took place since the day
gain and diplomatic ties. The fire of accident, referring not only the data available
stricken Tanker MT New Diamond within the navy, published and online articles, but
also by interviewing stakeholder agencies and
already left Sri Lankan Exclusive subject experts with the aim of highlighting not
Economic Zone (EEZ) by only achievements but also the grey areas too.
10th October, reached
to the final Episode in Brief...
Around 0805hrs on 03rd September 2020,
a distress relay (through Sat phone) received to
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC),
Colombo, (located at the Navy Headquarters),
from MT Helen M, a Panama Flag, Products Tanker
(IMO NO. 9308223), indicating an explosion
onboard MT New Diamond with a last known
