Even after the Tasman Spirit had run aground, the vessel could have been re-floated, but no serious attempt was made
AS expected, and predicted, the tanker Tasman Spirit, grounded in the channel at the mouth of the Karachi harbour, has split into two sections from amidships. The forward section is fully underwater and the after section is listed and half afloat at the time of writing.
According to KPT, they have commenced the discharge of the remaining oil from the tanker through barges and a small tanker. It is expected to take about a week before all the oil is extracted from the tanker.
The tanker, that was built by the Japanese in 1973, owned by a Greek company registered in the Bahamas and classified with the American Bureau of Shipping, has spewed out some 20,000 tons of crude oil into the sea so far, causing colossal damage to marine life and the environment. It is a national catastrophe. Ironically, a large sign in red letters is seen painted on the front of the bridge of the tanker and clearly visible from afar, saying ‘PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT’. Only if the pilot and the master of the ship had heeded the sign.
Of the 20,000 tons or so of oil spilled into the sea, some 30 to 40 per cent has found its way onto the beach at Clifton, similar amount has perhaps been dissolved by dispersants and the remainder floated out to sea by way of tide and current. Oil slick was reported to have been seen about 15 miles out at sea despite offshore wind and swell. A fair amount came into the harbour and found its way into the fish harbour, which lies at the top end of the harbour and also into western backwaters. It is, however, fortunate that due to prevailing monsoon weather, major portion of the spill has concentrated in one area, that is along about ten kilometre wide section of the Clifton beach where cleaning efforts are being directed.
Despite the damage, visible and not so visible, of catastrophic proportion, to marine life, statements to the contrary emanating from our leaders, are not understandable. Media has been flooded with news, opinions and analyses from experts on marine life and environs, who have clearly spelled out the immense damage caused. Yet we hear from those at the helm of affairs as if nothing much has happened and that everything will come back to normal in a short time. It does not happen that way. Recovery back to normalcy is a very slow process and takes several years. It is a pity that an accident which could have been easily avoided by careful navigation, was allowed to take place. Pilot and Master of the vessel are both responsible, the Master more so, as he is in command of his own ship and he never relinquishes his charge to anyone. In legal terms Pilot is only in an advisory capacity.
Even after the grounding there was ample opportunity to re-float the vessel, had attempts been made. There was favourable tide, which was rising every subsequent day for a week. KPT’s four strong tugs were ready and available and there was the certified staff. But no serious attempt was made to free the vessel. Officers and the head of the organization must take the blame as they carry the stigma of being saddled with the worst disaster in the 125-year history of Karachi Port.
DAMAGE TO MARINE LIFE: We have excellent marine life along our coast. The coastline along Clifton beach is a rich breeding ground due to proximity of the port. Many varieties of good fish include mackerel (surmai), sole fish, pomphret, red snapper (hira), rock salmon, grouper, bombil (Bombay duck) cuttlefish, cat fish, ribbon fish, stingrays etc., besides many varieties of prawns, lobsters, crabs, mussels, clams and many species of small edible fish.
Other marine life includes eels, shellfish, small sharks, harbour porpoises and variety of turtles including the famous green turtles.
Pakistan is very fortunate to have been blessed with large area of continental shelf due to which we have attained exclusive economic zone extending two hundred miles out to sea. The continental shelf is being mapped further which is likely to extend the exclusive economic zone to about 350 miles. This is a very rich area for marine life where we find tuna, sword fish, large sharks, and occasional huge whales just to name a few.
Various types of jellyfish and shells land on our shore and our shoreline is dotted with a variety of seaweed and algae. On any day one finds flocks of seagulls and other sea birds floating on water feeding on fish or swallows diving in the sea to catch fish, flamingos and waterfowl hunting food in marshes and mangroves.
During winter, migratory birds come down in flocks to feed on fish. Plankton is in abundance, which sustains the food chain. It was therefore painful to have seen number of dead fish and dead birds being shown on TV and in newspapers, bathed in the spilled oil from the tanker. The spill has posed threats to the delicate food chain that supports our fish industry. It has threatened the survival of thousands who depend on this industry for their subsistence. Yet the Chairman of KPT was heard to have said, and I quote “no marine life has been affected as there is no marine life in these waters”.
Oil spilled in the sea has a long term effect on fauna and flora. Lighter elements of the oil such as benzin, evaporate within days after the spill. The heavier particles consist of metal, lead and other harmful elements including the cancer causing agent, carcinogen. These find their way in the food chain and eventually in fishes that we eat. It takes years for the area to cleanse itself of the oil and get back to normality. During this time, afflicted fishes struggle for survival, but many species disappear.
OTHER SPILLS WORLDWIDE: The oil spill most often quoted is that of Exxon Valdez due to immense damage it caused to the environment. Exxon Valdez, an American tanker, carrying about a quarter million tons of Alaskan crude oil for Los Angeles, ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on the Alaskan coast on March 24, 1989. It spilled about 38,000 tons oil in the pristine waters and beaches of Alaska causing immense damage to marine life. It was an ecological disaster.
The spill posed threats to the delicate food chain that supported Prince William Sound’s commercial fishing industry. Millions of migratory shore birds and waterfowl, hundreds of sea otters and many dozens of other species, such as dolphins sea lions and whales were seriously affected and endangered. Thousands of dead birds and sea mammals were collected. Owners assumed the responsibility for the clean up. Many communities that depended on fishing industry were wiped off. It cost about $2 billion for the clean up. This was besides the claims that the owners paid.
The resulting oil slick contaminated the Alaskan shoreline and killed seabirds, bald eagles, otters, seals, and even killer whales. A number of salmon hatcheries was affected and millions of salmon that breed in creeks and coves were destroyed along with salmon eggs and fry. Herring in millions were wiped out. It was recently reported that only two out of the 28 species affected by the spill — river otters and bald eagles — have since fully recovered. Others have made little or no progress since the accident. Several other species, including sea otters and the Pacific herring, have made some progress toward recovery, but are still not at levels seen before March 1989. It is clear that 14 years on, for several species and the ecosystem in general, full recovery is a long way off.
Another spill of recent times is that of tanker Prestige which sank off the coast of north-west Spain. The tanker, similar to the Tasman Spirit, was carrying 77,000 tons of fuel oil from Latvia to Singapore when it met bad weath0er in the Atlantic and suffered a crack on her side from where oil started leaking.
For a few days the vessel drifted and spilled about 20,000 tons oil, which found its way onto to the Northwest coast of Spain, Portugal and France. Eventually, a salvage tug towed her towards shore seeking shelter and a place where it could carry out repairs. However, all the three countries in the vicinity that is Spain, Portugal and France refused to allow it to dock in their ports. Eventually the tug let go the ship after rescuing the crew.
Two days later the vessel broke into two and sank 130 miles off the Spanish coast in about 12,000 feet water with about 55000 tons of oil which is leaking in the cold waters of the Atlantic polluting shoreline as far away as south western France. At that depth oil takes a day to reach the surface.
Experts say the vessel will keep leaking for the next 40 years or so. In the meantime those affected in the north western province of Spain depend on fishing and tourism for their subsistence. While they have lost everything, all three countries are clamouring for their share of claims money.
Even after the Tasman Spirit had run aground, the vessel could have been re-floated, but no serious attempt was made 
