KARACHI: No proper inquiry instituted so far: Tasman Spirit disaster
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, Sep 4: The government has so far not instituted any high-level or independent enquiry into the grounding of the Greek-registered oil tanker, Tasman Spirit, which is believed to have flushed out about 30000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea, according to maritime sources.
Till date there is no official notification or terms of reference for enquiry in regard to the ship disasters which took place in the KPT channel on July 27.
Scientists and experts apprehend that irreparable damage has been caused to human and marine life by the oil spill.
Earlier, the minister communication and secretary communications had repeatedly stated that the government had ordered a fast-track enquiry under the leadership of the director general ports and shipping, and charge would be fixed against those found responsible in the light of the report of the committee which would include representatives from other government agencies.
Interestingly, the newly appointed DG ports and shipping, during a press conference held by the federal minister Ahmad Ali on August 20, had informed the media that since he had taken charge of the new office the same day he was not in a position to say anything about the pace of enquiry just then, but would be able do so after some time.
After the press conference, the new DG, Captain Anwar Shah, in a brief conversation with Dawn, had admitted that till that time he had not received any written communication on the subject of the committee or its terms of reference.
According to sources the DG is not heading any enquiry on the ship disaster, which has been a demand of the quarters concerned and the elected members of the assembly. What in the name of enquiry has been witnessed so far is a routine investigation initiated by the principal officer of the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) who, under the Pakistan Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 2001, is authorized to conduct preliminary enquiry.
The sources said that the DG, who had been seen active in the light of verbal announcements made by the communication ministry, finally decided to adopt silence in the absence of any official notification, and after a coordination committee under the directives of the President started working under the chairmanship of the chief secretary about a week back to assess environmental and health impacts of the ship-break and the subsequent huge oil spill.
When contacted, principal officer MMD, Salim Baloch, said he was conducting preliminary enquiry and would submit his findings and recommendations to the DG shipping only. “I have finished recording statements and examining the relevant quarters and the report would be ready within a week’s time,” he informed.
Responding to Dawn, the DG shipping and port Capt Anwar Shah, said a preliminary but exhaustive enquiry was being conducted under the provisions of the merchant shipping ordinance by competent persons to identity the causes of the Tasman Spirit incident. “Perhaps the government has dropped the idea of holding any immediate high-level enquiry into the ship matter to avert any legal complications”, he said.
