KARACHI, Feb 7: The local ship-breaking firm, which offered the highest bid of Rs24.2 million, was selected as buyer of the forward section of the broken foreign oil tanker, Tasman Spirit, a representative of the ship owner said on Saturday.

The tanker, that after running aground in the KPT channel on July 27 last flushed over 30,000 tonnes of cargo crude oil of Iranian origin in the sea, causing disastrous pollution and environmental problems, has been a source of concern for the port authorities as well.

Salvagers are working on an operation plan, envisaging lifting up of the two broken portions of the ship before the next monsoon.

The owners of the vessel, Assamina Maritime Co Ltd, had invited tenders a couple of days back for selling of the forward section of the vessel, having a weight of about 5,647 metric tonnes.

The vessel is a crude oil tanker, built at Onomichi Dockyard Co Ltd, Japan, in 1979, and is currently registered in Valletta, Malta.

Speaking on behalf of the owners, Captain H Mujtaba, said that Saturday, Feb 7, was the last date for lodging bids for the forward portion, which would be refloated and shifted to the Gadani Beach soon. As many as 10 tenders were received, he added.

The bids were opened in the afternoon and the parties concerned had now been informed about the acceptance of a bid of Rs24.2 million, submitted by Dewan Sons, he said. Second and third highest bids were a lump-sum price of Rs21 million and Rs20 million, respectively, Capt Mujtaba added, saying that formal memorandum with regard to the sale would be inked on Sunday.

Under the conditions, all local dues and taxes, including customs duty, would be paid by the buyers, while a deposit of 25 per cent of the purchase price was to be paid before the forward section was transported to Gaddani by the Smit Salvage BV, at present carrying out the wreckage removal operation, he said.

The deposit and the balance of the purchase price would be submitted with the Sindh High Court in the account of Admiralty Action No 20 of 2003.

In the meantime, maritime sources are of the view that lifting, refloating and shifting of the two portions of the ship were challenging jobs. The beaching in water of the forward portion with the minimum possible draught at Gadani would prove beneficial for both the seller and buyer, it was further viewed.