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10 Sayurusara 2020 December
position of 0700 06’N, 0820 29’E. Reporting ship National Aquatic Resources Research and
was 18 nmiles apart from the vessel in distress Development Agency (NARA), Attorney General’s
and immediately directed the same to assist by the (AG’s) department have taken necessary steps
MRCC, Colombo assuming the Search and Rescue to initiate legal action against the ship owners
Mission (SAR) Coordination for the incident. for pollution of Sri Lankan waters and claimed
Meanwhile, necessary distress alert to ships in the compensations for firefighting and damage control
region also broadcasted and directed Sri Lanka assistance. Finally, the crew was released, and the
Navy’s vessels to the scene. casualty ship was allowed to leave Sri Lankan
waters escorted by SLN by 01st October. Decision
The distressed oil tanker, a Very Large on her final destination to offload crude oil was
Crude Carrier (VLCC) had departed from Mina- changed many times starting from originally
Al- Ahmadi harbour of Kuwait on 23rd August planned Paradip port, which was recommended
and heading towards Port of Paradip, India and by SLN, port of Kandla in western Indian state of
manned by 23 crew members including 05 Greek Gujarat, port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab
and 18 Philippine nationals. MT Helen M was Emirates (UAE) and finally to Kalba anchorage,
first reached to the scene and rescued 19 crew UAE.
members who have already got into a lifeboat at a
distance of 1.5 nmiles from the ship. Subsequently, Towed Track of MT New Diamond"
SLN ships managed to rescue the rest of the crew
including the Captain except one oiler who was Know the Ship: VLCC MT New Diamond...
said to be inside engine room when exploding and
reported missing. Let’s understand what the ship is starting
from her name itself. Prefix ‘MT’ stands for Motor
Yet, the fire hazard sustained for almost six Tanker which denotes the kind of vessel. The type
days amidst coordinated attempt by the Sri Lanka of this Oil Tanker is Very Large Crude Carrier
Navy (SLN), Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Sri Lanka (VLCC). VLCCs are the second largest Super Tankers
Coast Guard (SLCG), Indian Navy, Indian Coast available in the world exceeding 250,000 Dead
Guard (ICG), Sri Lanka Ports Authority and other Weight Tonnage (DWT) and the value is between
Salvage ships arranged by the Greece based ship $100 -120 million depending on its age. Here the
owner and Salvage company. SLN took the leading DWT is given in Metric Tons and is the measure of
role and finally manged to completely douse how much weight a ship can carry. This is used to
the fire by 09th September 2020. As significant specify the ship’s maximum permissible deadweight
features, Sri Lankan Air Force initially conducted so that its ‘Plimsoll Line’ is at water level. The
Bambi Bucket operations to drop sea water to International Convention on Load Lines (CLL) of
control the fire and then change it to dropping Dry 1966, establishes the deepest draft to which a ship
Chemical Powder (DCP) bags along with Indian can be safely loaded. These ‘loadlines’ are commonly
Naval Aircraft, which made the task under control. seen as the ‘Plimsoll Mark’ line on a ship's side.
The damage control works and preparation of the
ship for towing away from Sri Lanka were carried Just to avoid confusion, the Metric Ton is
out by the nominated (Contractual) Singapore equivalent to 1000 kg. It is also referred as ‘tonne’
based Salvor company under M/S Smit Salvage as recognized in the SI Brochure. In English speaking
B.V with continues assistance from the SLN. countries this unit is usually called ‘metric ton’.
Considerable damage was occurred to the tanker Either way, the correct symbol is ‘t’ (1 t = 1000 kg).
from the accident especially to the engine room, The amount of crude oil being transported (270,000
pump room, accommodation area and bridge. Yet, t) onboard this casualty ship is sufficient for approx.
the tanks loaded with crude oil survived thanks to 14 days of consumption in Sri Lanka. As at present,
timely and effective response. Though, the major average price of Crude Oil Barrel is 42 USD. Which
possible oil spill disaster was stopped, minor scale means the worth of Crude oil transported by the said
marine pollution was reported assumed to be due Tanker is approx. 73,710,000.00 USD (73 million)
to leaking of Bunker oil, bilges and other waste in
the engine room mixed with water. Aerial spraying
of Dispersant agents also used to disperse the said
oil slick found successful.
Responsible stakeholder agencies; Marine
Environment Protection Authority (MEPA),
position of 0700 06’N, 0820 29’E. Reporting ship National Aquatic Resources Research and
was 18 nmiles apart from the vessel in distress Development Agency (NARA), Attorney General’s
and immediately directed the same to assist by the (AG’s) department have taken necessary steps
MRCC, Colombo assuming the Search and Rescue to initiate legal action against the ship owners
Mission (SAR) Coordination for the incident. for pollution of Sri Lankan waters and claimed
Meanwhile, necessary distress alert to ships in the compensations for firefighting and damage control
region also broadcasted and directed Sri Lanka assistance. Finally, the crew was released, and the
Navy’s vessels to the scene. casualty ship was allowed to leave Sri Lankan
waters escorted by SLN by 01st October. Decision
The distressed oil tanker, a Very Large on her final destination to offload crude oil was
Crude Carrier (VLCC) had departed from Mina- changed many times starting from originally
Al- Ahmadi harbour of Kuwait on 23rd August planned Paradip port, which was recommended
and heading towards Port of Paradip, India and by SLN, port of Kandla in western Indian state of
manned by 23 crew members including 05 Greek Gujarat, port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab
and 18 Philippine nationals. MT Helen M was Emirates (UAE) and finally to Kalba anchorage,
first reached to the scene and rescued 19 crew UAE.
members who have already got into a lifeboat at a
distance of 1.5 nmiles from the ship. Subsequently, Towed Track of MT New Diamond"
SLN ships managed to rescue the rest of the crew
including the Captain except one oiler who was Know the Ship: VLCC MT New Diamond...
said to be inside engine room when exploding and
reported missing. Let’s understand what the ship is starting
from her name itself. Prefix ‘MT’ stands for Motor
Yet, the fire hazard sustained for almost six Tanker which denotes the kind of vessel. The type
days amidst coordinated attempt by the Sri Lanka of this Oil Tanker is Very Large Crude Carrier
Navy (SLN), Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Sri Lanka (VLCC). VLCCs are the second largest Super Tankers
Coast Guard (SLCG), Indian Navy, Indian Coast available in the world exceeding 250,000 Dead
Guard (ICG), Sri Lanka Ports Authority and other Weight Tonnage (DWT) and the value is between
Salvage ships arranged by the Greece based ship $100 -120 million depending on its age. Here the
owner and Salvage company. SLN took the leading DWT is given in Metric Tons and is the measure of
role and finally manged to completely douse how much weight a ship can carry. This is used to
the fire by 09th September 2020. As significant specify the ship’s maximum permissible deadweight
features, Sri Lankan Air Force initially conducted so that its ‘Plimsoll Line’ is at water level. The
Bambi Bucket operations to drop sea water to International Convention on Load Lines (CLL) of
control the fire and then change it to dropping Dry 1966, establishes the deepest draft to which a ship
Chemical Powder (DCP) bags along with Indian can be safely loaded. These ‘loadlines’ are commonly
Naval Aircraft, which made the task under control. seen as the ‘Plimsoll Mark’ line on a ship's side.
The damage control works and preparation of the
ship for towing away from Sri Lanka were carried Just to avoid confusion, the Metric Ton is
out by the nominated (Contractual) Singapore equivalent to 1000 kg. It is also referred as ‘tonne’
based Salvor company under M/S Smit Salvage as recognized in the SI Brochure. In English speaking
B.V with continues assistance from the SLN. countries this unit is usually called ‘metric ton’.
Considerable damage was occurred to the tanker Either way, the correct symbol is ‘t’ (1 t = 1000 kg).
from the accident especially to the engine room, The amount of crude oil being transported (270,000
pump room, accommodation area and bridge. Yet, t) onboard this casualty ship is sufficient for approx.
the tanks loaded with crude oil survived thanks to 14 days of consumption in Sri Lanka. As at present,
timely and effective response. Though, the major average price of Crude Oil Barrel is 42 USD. Which
possible oil spill disaster was stopped, minor scale means the worth of Crude oil transported by the said
marine pollution was reported assumed to be due Tanker is approx. 73,710,000.00 USD (73 million)
to leaking of Bunker oil, bilges and other waste in
the engine room mixed with water. Aerial spraying
of Dispersant agents also used to disperse the said
oil slick found successful.
Responsible stakeholder agencies; Marine
Environment Protection Authority (MEPA),
