KARACHI, Aug 4: Despite rough seas, Pakistani authorities made arrangements on Monday to empty a Greek oil tanker grounded off the southern port of Karachi, senior port officials said.

“It is a very delicate operation. We are taking all necessary anti-pollution measures,” General Manager Operations Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Nishat Rafi said.

On Monday, navy and the KPT officials braved rough seas for hours in an attempt to make the preliminary arrangements for transferring around 67,500 tonnes of crude oil from Tasman Spirit to another ship.

“We have taken the anti-pollution measures today,” Mr Rafi said. “The salvage equipment is now in place. The emptying of the ship will start tomorrow.”

Tasman Spirit leaked some crude from one of its tanks soon after it was grounded on July 27.

Mr Rafi said some leakage was normal whenever there was grounding but it had been contained immediately.

Officials of the KPT say the transfer of oil to another ship waiting at the outer anchorage would take eight to 10 days, and after that it will be towed out.

A tug from Dubai, carrying submarine pumps, hoses and other equipment, assisted in Monday’s operation and another one was due from Colombo on Tuesday, officials said.—Reuters