- Title: PAKISTAN: GROUNDED GREEK OIL TANKER TASMAN SPIRIT HAS BROKEN UP
- Date: 16th August 2003
- Summary: (W5) OFF THE COAST OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV GROUNDED GREEK TANKER "TASMAN SPIRIT" LEAKING OIL; FILM OF OIL ON WATER; PORT AND CONTAMINATED WATER; WIDE VIEW OF TANKER; PAN ALONG TANKER (8 SHOTS) 1.20 (U6) KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 6. MV INTERIOR OF KARACHI PORT TRUST (KPT) HEAD OFFICE. KPT CHAIRMAN VICE ADMIRAL AHMED HAYAT BRIEFING JOURNALISTS; MV JOURNALISTS AT BRIEFING (3 SHOTS) 1.34 7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) VICE ADMIRAL AHMED HAYAT, CHAIRMAN KARACHI PORT TRUST SAYING "The ship which had started developing cracks totally cracked from the centre and the three tanks that we were expecting would discharge the oil and water have discharged the oil and water. What is lucky for us is that the quantum of oil that has gone out to sea is much less than our expectation." 1.57 (U6) OFF THE COAST OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 8. SLV STRICKEN TANKER (4 SHOTS) 2.19 (U6) KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 9. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) VICE ADMIRAL AHMED HAYAT, CHAIRMAN KARACHI PORT TRUST SAYING "The pollution effect is totally under control. What you see right now on the Clifton beach is really a cosmetic problem not so much a long-lasting or lingering problem and we are talking to consultants and out consultants and our own marine people have assured us that it is a matter of a week that we will be able to clean this up." 2.42 (U6) OFF THE COAST OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 10. WIDE OF POLLUTED BEACH; OIL MIXED WITH WATER COMING TO BEACH; SCU CRAB DYING OF POLLUTION; SLV SEA SHORE;SLV WATER MIXED WITH OIL; SCU DEAD FISH ON THE SEA SHORE; WIDE OF STRICKEN SHIP (7 SHOTS) 3.16 (U6) KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) VICE ADMIRAL AHMED HAYAT, CHAIRMAN KARACHI PORT TRUST SAYING "Tomorrow morning we will start the spraying process with C-130. The C-130 is coming tonight. In the harbour we have two or three tugs which are doing this. So that process is on. The other process which is totally involving us, which is totally in our focus is the stability of the ship. Once these two things are under control then we will start lightening the vessel and the process will start again once the vessel is totally lightened the we will, inshallah, try and refloat her." 3.46 (U6) OFF THE COAST OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 12. SLV STRICKEN SHIP (3 SHOTS) 4.04 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 31st August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KARACHI AND OFF THE COAST OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Reuters ID: LVAENOEERUJJQRN950B77OJIBD6M
- Story Text: A grounded oil tanker off the coast of Karachi,
Pakistan has broken up.
A Greek oil tanker, grounded off Pakistan's port
city of Karachi, has broken into two, leaking thousands of
tonnes of crude oil and killing wildlife, officials said on
Thursday (August 14).
Dead fish and turtles littered the two main beaches of
Karachi -- most covered in a thick coat of oil.
Around 12,000 tonnes of crude have spilled into the sea.
The Tasman Spirit, carrying 67,500 tonnes of crude, was
grounded just outside the channel leading to the Karachi
Port on July 27 and three attempts to tow it away had
failed, although some oil had been removed.
Authorities in Karachi said only six km (miles) of
coast has been affected and damage to the marine life was
minimal.
Salvage and draining operations would continue once the
ship stabilised, officials said, and pollution control
experts from Holland, England and Greece have been
assisting. Booms are being used to prevent the crude from
entering the port waters.
Vice-Admiral Chairman of Karachi Port Authority Ahmed
Hayat told reporters "The ship which had started developing
cracks totally cracked from the centre and the three tanks
that we were expecting would discharge the oil and water
have discharged the oil and water. What is lucky for us is
that the quantum of oil that has gone out to sea is much
less than our expectation."
Hayat said: "The pollution effect is totally under
control. What you see right now on the Clifton beach is
really a cosmetic problem not so much a long-lasting or
lingering problem and we are talking to consultants and out
consultants and our own marine people have assured us that
it is a matter of a week that we will be able to clean this
up."
"Tomorrow morning we will start the spraying process
with C-130. The C-130 is coming tonight. In the harbour we
have two or three tugs which are doing this. So that
process is on. The other process which is totally involving
us, which is totally in our focus is the stability of the
ship. Once these two things are under control then we will
start lightening the vessel and the process will start
again once the vessel is totally lightened the we will,
inshallah, try and refloat her", the vice-admiral said.
Pakistan, which is poorly equipped to handle the
crisis, is importing pollution control and salvage
equipment from various countries. Some of it has already
arrived, officials said.
Nuclear arch-rival India also offered to help Pakistan
on Thursday to contain the oil spill.
Indian foreign ministry spokesman told reporters in New
Delhi India was prepared to send materials including
pollution response equipment, dispersants and containment
booms if Islamabad responded positively to the offer.
Around 19,000 tonnes of crude from the ship had been
transferred before the operation was halted on Wednesday
because of fears of a split, but an estimated 44,000 tonnes
is still on the tanker.
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