KARACHI, Aug 22: The two parts into which the grounded Greek tanker Tasman Spirit had broken finally drifted apart on Friday, spilling more oil into the sea.

Both the parts had remained linked with each other through pipes and metal sheets since after breaking up on Aug 13, but this tenuous link, despite efforts by salvagers, snapped in rough sea.

The lighterage operation of the ship was suspended on Wednesday as the latest development disrupted efforts at containing the oil spill. The front portion of the ship sank further into the seabed, while the rear portion was also descending sharply, KPT sources said.

The tank’s structures were badly shaken as the rear portion buckled on impact of the tide. A huge oil spill started in the afternoon, sources said, who added that the salvagers and KPT authorities were indecisive about the measures to be taken to handle the new situation.

“I found thick layers of pure crude oil along the Clifton and Seaview beach, while a plane was busy spraying dispersant above the stranded ship and along the beach,” an environmentalist said.

Till 5pm, the KPT officers and Marine Control Centre kept silence on the fresh spill. It was at around 6.30pm that the General Manager (Administration) of KPT, Brig Iftikhar Arshad Khan, said the lighterage operation had to be put off again on Friday as the Fair Jolly and two parts of the ship were found unstable.

He confirmed the development and a further widening of the ship’s two parts.