KARACHI: Foreign experts seek end to anti-slick operation
KARACHI, Aug 18: A team of foreign experts, engaged in containing the oil slick caused by spillage from a Greek oil tanker off Karachi beach, has directed the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and the city government to stop their beach-cleaning operations.
The 12-member team, headed by Dr Karen, belongs to two organizations carrying out the anti-slick operation jointly under the banner of Global Alliance.
Mr Wayne O’Brien of the Oil Spill Response Ltd., which is using a C-130 plane to spray dispersants over the seawater to break up the sleek layer of crude oil, said that there was no large patch of oil in the affected zone. Therefore, he added, after dropping some 15 tons of chemicals in a couple of days, the aerial spray had been stopped.
Talking to PPI, Mr O’Brien explain whey the team had requested the DHA, KPT and the city government to stop their massive beach-cleaning operation.
“Technically, it is premature to launch the operation at this stage as all of the crude has not been taken out of the vessel Tasman Spirit and there may be a chance of more spills.”
Besides, he added, use of heavy machinery while cleaning the beaches was not advisable as too much of sand was scrapped.
He cited the principles of the National Environment Benefit which called for maximum efforts to avoid side effects of oil slick.
He criticized use of heavy machinery by the city government saying that what was necessary was to remove oil-soaked sand with spades and hands in order to keep the unaffected sand at its original place.
“The sand soaked in crude oil becomes a very strong material when mixed with lime,” Mr O’Brien said, advising that it must not be mixed with other garbage or junk.
The KPT has been carrying out its beach-cleaning operation in Sheerin Jinnah Colony mobilizing some 600 workers whereas the city government’s area of operation is between the Colony and Sindbad (Clifton). The DHA covers the portion of coastline in its jurisdiction beginning from the McDonald’s restaurant.
According to a member of the Global Alliance, the P&I Club, insurers of the Greek firm that owns Tasman Spirit is bearing total expenses of the salvage operation.
The team would not only assist and supervise the clean-up operation using sophisticated equipment, but would also impart training to the local personnel engaged in salvage work.
One of the team members estimated that between 300 and 1,500 tons of oil had hit the ground which, he added, was considered as low scale damage because a small zone had been affected so far. Besides, oil has not penetrated more than one centimetre deep into the beach ground.
Meanwhile, in-charge of the city government’s operation team Col (r) Ehtesham has criticized lack of coordination among stake-holders.
He pointed out that the city government had moved 50 units of heavy machinery, including dozers, to the affected area on Sunday but the very next day, it asked the team not operate them.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Syed Anwar Haider has emphasized the need for inter-departmental coordination in combating the oil slick.
He observed that prompt sharing of information and creating awareness in general public were the foremost requirement in dealing with the situation successfully.
Mr Haider was presiding over the second meeting of the Crisis Management Committee here on Monday. The committee was constituted by chief secretary with an aim of dealing with the oil slick problem in a coordinated and integrated manner.
The meeting was informed that Fisheries Department had since notified the ban on fishing.
The KPT representative apprised the meeting of the efforts made so far in containing the spillage from the vessel Tasman Spirit, removal of oil layer from the affected zone and cleaning of the polluted beaches.
He said that skimmers had been deployed to remove the crude oil which had entered the fish harbour on Sunday and that they were working in other areas of the port to skim off the accumulated oil.
He further told the meeting that the oil from the vessel would be transferred within the next five days.
The DHA representative asked the committee for a technical team to assist it in overcoming the problem.
Representative of the Environmental Protection Agency, Sindh, said that it had advised general public to adopt all possible measures to avoid inhaling contaminated air and coming in physical contact with the contaminated sand and water.
In case of being infected, he advised, one must properly wash the affected part of his body with clean water. People have also been advised to refrain from jogging in the areas where contamination in the ambient air could be felt.
Director General of the SEPA told the meeting that the agency was closely monitoring ambient air, containing hydrocarbons, on beaches in Clifton and the DHA. —APP
