KARACHI, Oct 12: A team of technical experts from Singapore hired by the owner of Orion-I, oil barge, will begin an operation to salvage the vessel on Friday morning after the KPT chairman okays the plan prepared abroad.

Malik Qutubuddin, owner of the vessel which capsized a week back, said that the report from abroad was received on Wednesday and a plan prepared by the salvage firm was submitted to KPT authorities on Thursday morning.

“The salvage master and his team are ready to undertake a salvage operation but the nod from the KPT chairman is awaited. If we get a signal in a day, we will commence the work immediately,” he said.

The report has been appreciated by KPT authorities, the owner of the vessel said. “The KPT has been co-ordinating and has assured us that any equipment at its disposal and required for salvage will be provided,” said Malik Qutub.

He said that 20-25 similar type of oil barges operated in the costal shipping area. Similar incidents had occurred in the past also but this particular incident was highlighted as the people and the administration were still under the nightmarish effects of Tasman Spirit, an oil tanker which ran aground a couple of years back, he said.

A sudden sea surge, termed `Little storm’ by the owner, caused the capsizing of the oil barge.

When asked about human error and in-experience of the crew on board Orion-I carrying 70 tons of fuel oil, he said the crew was appearing daily before the committee appointed by the authorities and questioned to get to the cause of the accident.

“I have advised them to speak nothing but truth before the committee and also requested the committee to inform me of their findings so that the person responsible pays for it,” he said.

“The loss is unbearable but we have to sustain it,” he said, adding that the company owning the vessel was bearing all expenses for the salvage operation.—APP