Oil spill barriers have been set up around the berth at Kolkata port where a container vessel from Bangladesh had capsized on Thursday, minutes after loading of cargo was completed.
Port officials said on Friday that the barriers and other devices to soak oil from the water have been installed to prevent oil from spreading into the water if there is any oil spill.
The loading of cargo on the vessel, M/v Marine Trust 1, was completed at 9am. Within 15 minutes, the vessel capsized. Several containers went into the water while many were floating.
Port sources said the capsized vessel contained 10 kilolitres of oil. “The vessel’s tank would have been filled up before it set sail,” said an official of Kolkata port. The M/v Marine Trust 1 was to sail from Kolkata for Chittagong on Friday.
“The port has taken all precautionary measures. Oil spill boom barriers have been rigged all around the vessel to contain oil spill or spill of any chemical in the berth. Skimmers, pumps , oil soaking pads have been kept ready to pick up oil from water, if detected,” a port spokesperson said.
The vessel was anchored at berth number five of Netaji Subhas Dock.
Port officials said the oil boom barriers, made of rubber, go two feet deep into the water. These rubber barriers prevent oil, spilled from the vessel, from spreading into the river.
Oil skimmers have been deployed, too. Officials said oil skimmers are mechanical devices that skim the surface of fluid to remove the floating oil.
An agency carried out a survey of the spot on Friday, said officials.
The vessel might have capsized because of improper loading of cargo, port sources said.
