KARACHI, Oct 21: The furnace oil sealed in the tanks of sunken barge, Orion-I, was safely siphoned off to another oil barge Nameera from where it has been properly disposed off ashore.

In the entire process, the KPT ensured that no spillage took place. This operation was conducted by a world-renowned salvaging company, M/s SMIT Singapore, along with their local partners under the careful supervision and guidance of the Karachi Port Trust.

A KPT release stated the state-of-the-art equipment, including five air driven pumps for pumping oil and hydraulic tapping equipment for cutting steel bulkheads, were used by 10 divers to reach the underwater tanks.

Onion-I, carrying furnace oil had capsized 3.1 nautical miles from Karachi on Oct 6 at 9pm. The KPT and the owners successfully rescued five crewmen. In the final phase of salvage operation the barge would be re-floated and removed to a safe location for further disposal.—PPI/ APP