KARACHI, Sept 10: The Karachi Port Trust, on a court order, has detained the salvage ship, Endeavour-II, after it completed the shifting of oil from the vessel, Tasman Spirit.

Maritime sources said the detained ship is carrying about 38,000 tonnes of crude oil which has been transferred from the Tasman Spirit. The Endeavour-II wanted to leave the port in a situation when the insurance companies of the cargo, charterer of Tasman and other stake-holders are yet to be satisfied.

When contacted, a KPT official confirmed the arrest, saying they had received the high court orders about its detention on Tuesday.

An insurance company had approached the court, and the KPT had no option but to detain the ship.

To another question, he said no other foreign ship, called for salvage works, had been placed under detention. Others are free to move, provided they clear the port dues, he added.

Sources said before detention the Endeavour-II had requested for berthing at any of oil piers so that the disputed oil could be off-loaded.

However, after a denial by the National Refinery for which the consignment was meant, the ship had no option but to leave the port and dispose of the oil to recover its dues, sources maintained.

In the meantime, representatives of a couple of salvage companies are visiting the Karachi port and examining the collapsed ship Tasman Spirit to win the job for removal of its wreckage. The owners and other concerned international agencies had invited offers from salvagers for carrying the left-over salvage works, it was learnt.

A port source said that another salvage ship Fair Jolly, which developed a hole in its keel after ferrying a significant quantity of cargo crude oil stored in Tasman Spirit, was finally being moved to the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works for checking of its hull and for carrying out further repairs, if needed.

After coming out of the KSEW, the ship would be tested for the grant of sea worthiness certificate, prior to its going out of the KPT, added the source.

Another rescue ship, Sea Angel, also transferred the last chunk of cargo oil and other lubricants and fuel oil, extracted from the collapsed ship to Endeavour-II on Wednesday.

While the salvagers are not directly accessible for comments, sources said that the removal of the wreckage of Tasman Spirit was now a matter of prime concern for the KPT.

As soon as a contract is awarded for the removal of the wreckage, it is required to be removed within two months.

Meanwhile, the rear portion of Tasman Spirit is still under threat and it is likely to settle down further in the sea-bed.

The lighterage operation stretched over a period of about 35 days, and three foreign ships, a naval ship, a few commercial barges and tugs, including that of the KPT took part in the salvage operation.

During a period of about 45 days of its running aground since July 27, the Tasman, spilled about 30000 tonnes of oil into the sea, causing a serious environmental impairing and having a long-lasting adverse impact on human and marine life.